BANCROFT 
LIBRARY 

•o 

THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


[90] 


MESSAGE, 


'  To  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United  States: 

In  transmitting  to  the  House  of  Representatives  the  documents 
called  for  by  the  resolution  of  that  House,  of  the  30th  January,  1  con 
sider  it  my  duty  to  invite  the  attention  of  Congress  to  a  very  impor 
tant  subject,  and  to  communicate  the  sentiments  of  the  Executive  on 
it,  that,  should  Congress  entertain  similar  sentiments,  there  may  be 
such  co-operation  between  the  two  departments  of  the  government  as 
their  respective  rights  and  duties  may  require. 

The  revolutionary  movement  in  the  Spanish  provinces  in  this  hemi 
sphere  attracted  the  attention  and  excited  the  sympathy  of  our  fellow- 
citizens  from  its  commencement.  This  feeling  was  natural  and  ho 
norable  to  them,  from  causes  which  need  not  be  communicated  to  you. 
It  has  been  gratifying  to  all  to  see  the  general  acquiescence  which 
has  been  manifested  in  the  policy  which  the  constituted  authorities 
liave  deemed  it  proper  to  pursue  in  regard  to  this  contest.  As  soon 
as  the  movement  assumed  such  a  steady  arid  consistent  form  as  to 
make  the  success  of  the  provinces  probable,  the  rights  to  which  they 
were  entitled  by  the  law  of  nations,  as  equal  parties  to  a  civil  war, 
were  extended  to  them.  Each  party  was  permitted  to  enter  our  ports 
with  its  public  and  private  ships,  and  to  take  from  them  every  article 
which  was  the  subject  of  commerce  with  other  nations.  Our  citizens, 
also,  bave  carried  on  commerce  with  both  parties,  and  the  govern 
ment  has  protected  it,  with  each,  in  articles  not  contraband  of  war. 
through  the  whole  of  this  contest  the  United  States  have  remained 
icutral,  and  have  fulfilled  with  the  utmost  impartiality  all  the  obli 
gations  incident  to  that  character. 

This  contest  has  now  reached  such  a  stage,  and  been  attended  with 
such  decisive  success  on  the  part  of  the  provinces,  that  it  merits  the 
nost  profound  consideration  whether  their  right  to  the  rank  of  inde 
pendent  nations,  with  all  the  advantages  incidentto  it,  in  their  inter 
course  with  the  United  States,  is  riot  complete.  Buenos  Ayres  as- 
'imed  that  rank  by  a  formal  declaration  in  1816,  and  has  enjoyed  it 
ince  1810,  free  from  invasion  by  the  parent  country.  The  provinces 
omposing  the  Republic  of  Colombia,  after  having  separately  declar- 

their  independence,  were  united  by  a  fundamental  law  of  the  1 7th 

December,  1819.  A  strong  Spanish  force  occupied,  at  that  time, 
ertam  parts  of  the  territory  within  their  limits,  and  waged  a  clestruc- 
ive  war.  That  force  has  since  been  repeatedly  defeated,  and  the' 
vhote  of  it  either  made  prisoners  or  dt^troved.  or  expelled  from  the 


[90] 


country,  with  the  exception  of  an  inconsiderable  portion  only,  which 
js  blockaded  in  two  fortresses.  The  provinces  on  the  Pacific  have 
likewise  been  very  successful.  Chili  declared  independence  in  1818, 
and  has  since  enjoyed  it  undisturbed;  and  of  late,  by  the  assistance  of 
Chili  and  Buenos  Ayres,  the  revolution  has  extended  to  Peru.  Of  the 
movement  in  Mexico  our  information  is  less  authentic,  but  it  is,  ne 
vertheless,  distinctly  understood,  that  the  new  government  hasdecar- 
ed  its  independence,  and  that  there  is  now  no  opposition  to  it  there, 
nor  a  force  to  make  any.  For  the  last  three  years  the  government  of 
Spain  has  not  sent  a  single  corps  of  troops  to  any  part  of  that  country; 
nor  is  there  any  reason  to  believe  it  will  send  any  in  future.  Thus, 
it  is  manifest,  that  all  those  provinces  are  not  only  in  the  full  enjoy 
ment  of  their  independence,  but,  considering  the  state  of  the  war  and 
other  circumstances,  that  there  is  not  the  most  remote  prospect  of  their 
being  deprived  of -it. 

When  the  result  of  such  a  contest  is  manifestly  settled,  the  new 
governments  have  a  claim  to  recognition  by  other  powers,  which 
ought  not  to  be  resisted.  Civil  wars  too  often  excite  feelings  which 
the  parties  cannot  control.  The  opinion  entertained  by  other  pow 
ers  as  to  the  result,  may  assuage  those  feelings  and  promote  an  ac 
commodation  between  them  useful  and  honorable  to  both.  The  de 
lay  which  has  been  observed  in  making  a  decision  on  this  important 
subject,  will,  it  is  presumed,  have  afforded  an  unequivocal  proof  to 
Spain,  as  it  must  have  done  to  other  powers,  of  the  high  respect  en 
tertained  by  the  United  States  for  her  rights,  and  of  their  determina 
tion  not  to  interfere  with  them.  The  provinces  belonging  to  this  he 
misphere  are  our  neighbors,  and  have,  successively,  as  each  portion  of 
the  country  acquired  its  independence,  pressed  their  recognition  by 
an  appeal  to  facts  not  to  be  contested,  and  which  they  thought  gave 
them  a  just  title  to  it.  To  motives  of  interest  this  government  has 
invariably  disclaimed  all  pretension,  being  resolved  to  take  no  part 
in  the  controversy,  or  other  measure  in  regard  to  it,  which  should  not 
merit  the  sanction  of  the  civilized  world.  To  other  claims  a  just 
sensibility  has  been  always  felt,  and  frankly  acknowledged,  but  they 
in  themselves  could  never  become  an  adequate  cause  of  action.  It 
was  incumbent  on  this  government  to  look  to  every  important  fact 
and  circumstance  on  which  a  sound  opinion  could  be  formed,  which 
has  been  done.  When  we  regard,  then,  the  great  length  of  time  which 
this  war  has  been  prosecuted,  the  complete  success  which  has  attended 
it  in  favor  of  the  provinces,  the  present  condition  of  the  parties,  and 
the  utter  inability  of  Spain  to  produce  any  change  in  it,  we  are  com 
pelled  to  conclude  that  its  fate  is  settled,  and  that  the  provinces  which 
have  declared  their  independence,  and  are  in  the  enjoy  ment  of  it, 
ought  to  be  recognized. 

Of  the  views  of  the  Spanish  government  on  this  subject,  no  particu 
lar  information  has  been  recently  received.  It  may  be  presumed 
that  the  successful  progress  of  the  revolution,  through  such  a  long 
series  of  years,  gaining  strength,  and  extending  annually  in  every  di 
rection,  and  embracing,  by  the  late  important  events,  with  little  ex- 


[  90  ] 

ueption,  all  the  dominions  of  Spain  south  of  the  United  States,  on 
his  continent,  placing  thereby  the  complete  sovereignty  over  the 
,vhole  in  the  hands  of  the  people,  will  reconcile  the  parent  country  to 
an  accommodation  with  them,  on  the  basis  of  their  unqualified  inde 
pendence.  Nor  has  any  authentic  information,  been  recently  received 
of  the  disposition  of  other  powers  respecting  it.  A  sincere  desire  has 
Deen  cherished  to  act  in  concert  with  them  in  the  proposed  recogni- 
ion,  of  which  several  were  sometime  past  duly  apprized,  but  it  was 
understood  that  they  were  not  prepared  for  it.  The  immense  space 
Between  those  powers,  even  those  which  border  on  the  Atlantic,  and 
these  provinces,  makes  the  movement  an  affair  of  less  interest  and 
excitement  to  them,  than  to  us.  It  is  probable,  therefore,  that  they 
'iave  been  Jess  attentive  to  its  progress  than  we  have  been.  It  may 
>e  presumed,  however,  that  the  late  events  will  dispel  all  doubt  of 
he  result. 

In  proposing  this  measure,  it  is  not  contemplated  to  change  there 
by,  in  the  slightest  manner,  our  friendly  relations  with  eithe**  of  the 
parties,  but  to  observe,  in  all  respects,  as  heretofore,  should  the  war 
je  continued,   the  most  perfect  neutrality   between  them.     Of  this 
i'iendly  disposition,  an  assurance  will  be  given  to  the  government  of 
Spain,  to  whom  it  is  presumed  it  will  be,  as  it  ought  to  be,  satisfacto 
ry.     The  measure  is  proposed,  under  a  thorough  conviction  that  it  is 
in  strict  accord  with  the  law  of  nations;  that  it  is  just  and  right  as 
to  the  parties;   and  that  the  United  States  owe  it  to  their  station  and 
haracter  in  the  world,  as  well   as   to  their  essential  interests,  to 
tdopt  it.     Should  Congress   concur  in  the   view   herein  presented, 
hey  will  doubtless  see  the  propriety  of  making  the  necessary  appro 
priations  for  carrying  it  into  effect. 

JAMES  MONROE. 

WASHINGTON-,  March  8, 


[90] 


DEPARTMENT  or  STATE, 

Washington,  7th  March,  1822. 

The  Secretary  of  State,  to  whom  has  been  referred  the  resolution 
of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  30th  of  January  last,  request 
ing  the  President  of  the  United  States  to  lay  before  that  House  such 
communications  as  might  be  in  the  possession  of  the  Executive  from 
the  agents  of  the  United  States  with  the  governments  south  of  the 
United  States,  which  have  declared  their  independence:  and  the  com 
munications  from  the  agents  of  such  governments  in  the  United 
States,  with  the  Secretary  of  State,  as  tend  to  shew  the  political  con 
dition  of  their  governments,  and  the  state  ol  the  war  between  them 
and  Spain,  as  it  might  be  consistent  with  the  public  interest  to  com 
municate;  has  the  honor  of  submitting  to  the  President  the  papers 
required  by  that  resolution. 

The  communications  from  the  agents  of  the  United  States  are  only 
those  most  recently  received,  and  exhibiting  their  views  of  the  actual 
condition  of  the  several  South  American  revolutionary  governments. 
No  communication  has  yet  been  received  from  Mr.  Prevost  since  his 
arrival  at  Lima. 

There  has  been  hitherto  no  agent  of  the  United  States  in  Mexico; 
but  among  the  papers  herewith  submitted,  is  a  letter  recently  receiv 
ed  from  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  who  has  been  some  years  re 
siding  there,  containing  the  best  information  in  possession  of  the 
government,  concerning  the  late  revolution  in  that  country;  and 
specially  of  the  character  embraced  by  the  resolution  of  the  House, 


JOHN  QUINCY  ADAMS, 


The  PRESIDENT 

Of  the  United  States. 


[90] 


LIST  OF  PAPERS 

Jlccompanyw *  the  report  of  the  Secretary  of  State  to  the  President, 
7th  March)  1822,  in  relation  to  South  American  uffairs. 


The  Secretary  of  State  to  John  M.  Forbes, 

Mr  Forbes  to  the  Secretary  of  State,  [extracts.] 

Same  to  same,  [extract.] 

Same  to  same,  [extracts.] 

Same  to  Mr.  Rivadavia, 

Mr.  Rivadavia  to  Mr.  Forbes, 

Minute  of  a  conference  with  Mr.  Rivadavia, 

Mr.  Rivadavia  to  Mr.  Forbes, 

Decree. 

Mr.  Forbes  to  the  Secretary  of  State,  [extracts.] 

Same  to  same,  [extract.] 

Same  to  same,  [extracts.] 

Mr.  Prevost  to  the  Secretary  of  State,  [extract.] 

Same  to  Mr.  Joaquin  Echeveria,  [copy.] 

General  O'Higgins  to  Mr.  Prevost,  do. 

Mr.  Hogan  to  the  Secretary  of  State,  [extract.] 

Act  of  Independence  of  Peru,  [translation.] 

Mr.  Brent  to  the  Secretary  of  State, 

Mr.  Torres  to  same,  [translation.] 

Fundamental  law  of  Congress  of  Venezuela,  do. 

Credential  letter  to  Mr.  Torres,         [translation.] 

Mr.  Torres  to  the  Secretary  of  State,        do. 

Same  to  same,  do. 

Same  to  same,  do. 

Secretary  of  State  to  Mr.  Torres, 

James  Smith  Wilcocks  to  the  Secretary  of  State, 


5th  July  1820, 
2d  Sept.  1821. 

lltli  do. 

28th  do. 

14th  do. 

15th  do. 

17th  do. 
6th  Oct. 

26th  Oct. 

8th  Nov.      *. 
13th  Nov. 
30th  June. 
18th    do. 
23d     do. 
18th  Aug. 

10th  July. 

20th  Feb. 

17th  Dec.  1819. 

30th  Nov.  1821. 
30th  Dec. 
2d  Jan.  1822. 
18th  do. 
25th  Oct.  1821. 


Treaties  concluded  in  the  city  of  Cordova,  on  the  24th"} 
of  August,  1821,  between  O'Donoju  and  Iturbide.  [ 


Decree  of  the  Regency  of  Mexico. 
Manifesto  to  the  people  of  Mexico. 


^•Translations. 


[90J  9 

DOCUMENTS. 


From  the  Secretary  of  State  to  Mr.  John  M.  Forbes,  at  JWw  fork. 

DEPAUTMENT  OF  STATE,  5th  July,  1820. 

SIR:  The  certificate  from  this  Department,  which  has  been  made 
out  and  transmitted  to  you,  constitutes  you  agent  for  commerce  and 
seamen,  for  either  of  the  provinces  of  Buenos  Ay  res  or  of  Chi^,  in 
whichsoever  of  them  Mr.  J.  B.  Provost  shall  not  be.  He  is  at  this 
time  at  Buenos  Ayres;  but  having  at  one  period  intimated  to  the 
President  a  preference  to  return  to  Chili,  where  he  s6me  time  re 
sided,  it  is  thought  due  to  him  to  leave  the  selection  of  his  residence, 
after  your  arrival  at  Buenos  Ayres,  to  himself.  Should  he  deter 
mine  to  continue  there,  you  will  proceed,  either  by  land  over  the  An 
des,  or  in  the  frigate  Constellation,  round  Cape  Horn  to  Valparaiso, 
and  take  up  your  residence  there,  or  at  St.  Jago  de  Chili,  which  is 
understood  to  be  the  seat  of  the  revolutionary  government  of  that 
province.  If  he  should  prefer  to  return  thither,  you  will  remain  at 
Buenos  Ayres. 

The  commercial  intercourse  between  the  United  States  and  those 
tountries,  though  not  very  considerable,   is  deserving  of  particular 
attention.     Whatever  accurate  information  you  can  obtain,  relating 
to  it,  as  well  as  to  the  commerce  of  those  countries  with   other  na 
tions,  and  to  their  internal  trade,  will  be  particularly  acceptable;  the 
condition  of  our  seamen  there  will  also    deserve  your   notice.     The 
performance  of  these  duties  will  involve  also  the  political   relations 
between  those  countries  and  the  United  States,     in  the   progress   of 
their  revolution,  Buenos  Ayres  and  Chili  have  to  the  extent  of  their 
powers,  and  indeed,  far  beyond  their  natural  means,  combined  mar- 
intime  operations  with  those  of  their  war  by  land.     Having  no  ships 
or  seamen  of  their  own,  they  have  countenanced  and  encouraged  fo 
reigners  to  enter  their  service,  without  always  considering  how  far  is 
might  affect  either  the  rights  or  the  duties  of  the  nations  to   which 
those  foreigners  belonged.     The  privateers,  which,  with    the   com 
missions,  and  under  the  flag  of  Buenos  Ayres,   have  committed   so 
many  and  such  atrocious  acts  of  piracy,  were  all  either  fitted  out, 
manned,  and  officered  by  foreigners  at  Buenos  Ayres,  or  even  in  for 
eign  countries,  not  excepting  our  own,  to  which    blank  commissions 
both  for  the   ships  and  officers  have  been  sent.     In  the  instructions 
to  the  late  Commodore  Perry,  which  his  lamented  decease  pre vented 
from  being  executed  by  him,  and  a  copy  of  which    is  now  furnished 
to  you,  certain  articles  in  the  Buenos  Ayrean  privateering  ordinance 
were  pointed  out,  particularly  liable  to  the  production  of  these  abuses, 
and  which,  being  contrary  to  the  established  usages  among  civilized 
nations,  it  was  hoped  would  have  been  revoked,  or  made  to  disappear 
from  their  otherwise  unexceptionable,  code.     These  instructiens  were 


10    *  [  90  ] 

renewed  to  Commodore  Morris,  but  the  time  of  his  stay  at  Buenos 
Ay  res  was  so  short,  and  he  was  there  at  a  moment  of  so  great  a 
change  in  the  ruling  power  of  the  state,  that,  although  he  communi 
cated  to  the  then  existing  director,  the  substance  of  the  representa 
tions  which  Commodore  Perry  had  been  instructed  to  make,  we  know 
not  that  it  was  attended  with  any  favourable  result.  You  will  con 
sider  the  parts  of  Commodore  Perry's  instructions,  which  may  be 
still  applicable  on  your  arrival  in  South  America,  as  directed  to  your 
self;  and  should  you  proceed  to  Chili,  will  execute  them  there,  n* 
communication  upon  the  subject  having  yet  been  made  there.  Among 
the  inconveniences  consequent  upon  this  system  of  carrying  on  mari 
time  warfare  by  means  of  foreigners,  has  been  occasionally,  and  to  a 
considerable  extent,  the  enticement  of  seamen  belonging  to  merchant 
vessels  in  the  ports  of  Buenos  Ayres  and  Chili,  from  their  engage 
ments;  to  enlist  them  in  privateers  or  public  armed  vessels  of  those 
countries.  In  attending  to  the  numerous  trials  and  convictions  for 
piracy,  which  have  recently  afflicted  our  country,  and  cast  an  unusual 
gloom  over  our  annals,  you  will  remark  that  a  great  proportion  of 
the  guilty  persons  have  been  seamen  thus  engaged — foreigners  at 
Buenos  Ayres,  or  enlisted  in  our  own  ports,  in  violation  of  onr  laws. 
Whether  at  Buenos  Ayres  or  in  Chili,  you  will  use  every  exertion  in 
your  power,  consistent  with  the  respect  and  conciliatory  deport 
ment  to  be  constantly  observed  towards  the  existing  public  authori 
ties,  to  protect  the  seamen  of  the  United  States  from  all  such  enlist 
ments,  and  the  owners  and  masters  of  the  merchant  vessels  from  time 
to  time  arriving  there,  from  the  loss  of  their  men  by  such  means. 

The  Commercial  Digest  of  the  Laws  of  foreign  countries  with 
which  the  United  States  are  in  relation,  a  copy  of  which  has  beea 
furnished  you,  may  suggest  to  you  the  nature  of  part  of  the  informa 
tion  which  is  desirable  from  South  America- 
Political  information  will  be  equally  acceptable;  the  more  particu 
lar  and  correct  the  information  of  this  nature  which  you  can  obtain, 
the  more  acceptable  it  will  prove.  Beside  the  struggle  in  South 
America  for  independence,  against  which  Spain  is  the  only  opposite 
party,  internal  feuds  and  civil  wars  have  peculiarly  marked  every 
step  of  the  revolutions  in  progress  upon  that  theatre.  As  an  agent 
and  citizen  of  the  United  States,  the  first  advice  I  shall  give  you. 
is,  to  observe  and  report  with  all  the  vigilance  and  discernment 
and  penetration  and  fidelity  to  your  own  country,  that  you  possess, 
the  movements  of  all  parties,  but  to  make  yourself  a  partisan  to  none. 
From  the  documents  lately  received  here,  it  is  apparent,  that  a  ne 
gotiation  has  been  some  time  on  foot  between  the  late  government  of 
Buenos  Ayres  and  France.  It  is  well  known  that  a  negotiation  of 
much  longer  standing  has  existed  between  the  same  government  and 
Portugal;  nor  has  Mr.  Rivadavia  been  residing  two  or  three  years 
to  no  purpose  in  England.  To  ascertain  the  real  movements  of  all 
these  parties,  a  neutral  position,  a  neutral  heart,  and  an  observing 
mind,  are  indispensable;  in  recommending  it  to  your  attention,  1 
would  add  the  caution,  neither  to  take  upon  trust  what  any  mar» 


[90]  It 

shall  tell  you,  without  asking  yourself  what  it  is  his  interest  or  wish 
that  you  should  believe,  nor  to  give  more  weight  to  conjectures,  than 
the  circumstances  under  which  they  are  formed  will  warrant. 

By  the  latest  accounts  that  we  have  received,  the  government,  the 
yeongress,  and  the  constitution,  of  the  provinces  of  La  Plata  were 
overthrown;  the  province  of  Buenos  Ay  res  stood  alone,  with  Don 
Manuel  de  Sarratea,  as  governor,  at  its  head;  they  were  in  negotia 
tion  with  General  Artigas,  of  the  Oriental  Banda,  and  with  Gene 
ral  Ramirez,  commander  of  the  Monteneros;  in  what  those  negotia 
tions  will  result,  we  are  to  learn  hereafter,  and  what  their  effect  will 
be  upon  the  relations  of  all,  with  the  Portuguese  at  Montevideo,  is 
yet  to  be  seen.  Should  you  remain  at  Buenos  Ayres,  we  shall  ex 
pect  full  communications  from  you  as  frequently  as  opportunities  for 
transmitting  them  may  occur. 

I  am,  &c. 

JOHN  QTIINCY  ADAMS, 

JOHN  M.  FORBES,  Esq. 


JBxtract  of  a  letter  from  John  M.  Forbes,  Esq.  agent  of  the  United  States 

at  Buenos  Jly  res,  to  the  Secretary  of  State,  dated  2d  September,  1821. 

"  1  shall  confine  myself  to  a  general  summary  of  leading  events 

since  my  last.     The  first  in  order  of  date,  is  the  total  defeat  of  the 

party  of  Ramirez,  by  a  wing  of  the  united  armies  of  Santa  Fe  and 

Cordova,  under  Don  Francisco  de  Bedoya,  substitute  governor  of 

Cordova      The  action  was  fought  at  Francisco,  on  the  Rio  Seco,  on 

the  10th  of  July,  and  the  news  was  most  joyfully  received  here  on  the 

21st  of  the  same  month. 

"  I  have  great  pleasure  in  announcing  to  you  a  new  organization 
of  this  government,  which  promises  great  solidity  and  character,  and 
from  whose  exertions  the  most  important  reforms  are  daily  taking 
place.  The  Departments  of  State  and  Treasury  were,  until  the  18th 
of  July  last,  united  in  one  person,  Don  Juan  Manuel  de  Luca;  the 
junta  then  decreed  that  these  departments  should  be  separated,  and 
the  Governor  called  to  the  first,  Don  Bernadino  Rivadavia,  with  the 
title  of  Minister  of  the  Government  and  of  Foreign  Relations.  Mr. 
Luca  remained  charged  with  the  Department  of  Treasury  until  the 
first  August,  when  he  offered  his  resignation,  which  was  accepted, 
and  a  complimentary  decree  of  the  8th  August  published  with  accept 
ance  of  the  Governor.  Don  Manuel  Jose  Garcia,  many  years  diplo 
matic  agent  of  the  director  at  Rio  Janeiro,  since  has  been  appointed  to 
that  office.  These  two  gentlemen,  Rivadavia  and  Garcia,  both  pos 
sess  a  great  share  of  public  confidence;  have  both  acquired  experience 
in  public  affairs  by  long  residences  near  foreign  courts,  and  they 
both  seem  animated  by  a  zealous  desire  to  establish  order  in  the  various 
branches  of  the  administration,  and  economy  in  the  public  expendi 
ture.  This  spirit  of  reform,  which  was  the  great  cause  of  the  over- 


12  [  90  ] 

throw  of  Saratea,  by  exciting  the  discontent  and  violent  opposition 
of  military  men,  now  fornishes  also  a  hope  to  the  partizans  of  Pur- 
reydon,  who  are  raising  great  cla.nor  against  the  new  ministers,  and 
working  diligently  to  regain  their  influence.  In  short,  the  present 
moment  seems  to  be  the  crisis  of  a  struggle  between  public  virtue  and 
corruption,  between  a  new  born  impulse  of  public  opinion  growing  in 
the  liberty  of  the  press  with  that  of  parliamentary  debate,  and  the 
rotten  legacy  of  the  vice  royalty,  the  deleterious  influence  of  military 
patronage.  It  is  a  struggle*  on  the  event  of  which  hangs  the  future, 
liberty  and  welfare  of  this  province.  May  Heaven  smile  on  the 
future  efforts  of  virtue  and  patriotism! 

"  Another  very  important  event  has  occurred  since  my  last  report. 
The  annexation  of  the  Banda  Oriental  to  the  kingdom  of  Brazils, 
and  the  recognition  of  the  independence  of  th^se  provinces  by  His 
Most  Faithful  Majesty  King  John.  These  measures  were  simulta 
neous  and  correlative.  On  the  28th  July,  Don  Juan  Manuel  de  Fi 
guieredo  presented  himself  to  this  government  with  the  character  of 
consul  of  Portugal  and  Brazils,  and  with  a  letter  of  credence  from 
the  Brazilian  Secretary  of  State,  acknowledging  the  independence 
of  these  provinces,  and  expressing  a  hope  that  these  provinces  would 
acknowledge  any  and  a!!  governments  of  fact  which  should  be  ad 
mitted  and  obeyed  by  the  people  of  any  neighboring  provinces. 
This  government  received  Mr.  de  Figuieredo  with  great  courtesy, 
and  passed  over  in  silence  the  recognition  with  its  implied  condition. 
The  whole  business,  on  both  sides,  appears  to  me  to  be  quite  theatri 
cal.  Mr.  Figuieredo,  a  conspicuous  actor'in  the  first  scene,  has  re 
tired  suddenly  from  all  political  agencies,  and  from  this  life!  On  the 
moYning  of  the  2ist  August,  being  apparently  in  perfect  health,  and 
whilst  walking  in  his  saloon,  waiting  for  his  breakfast,  he  fell  down 
instantly  dead!  By  order  of  government  his  body  was  opened  by  a 
surgeon,  in  presence  of  some  distinguished  law  officers,  and  his  sto 
mach  and  bowels  found  to  be  in  a  healthful  state,  whence  it  results 
that  he  died  of  apoplexy.  Soon  after  Mr.  Rivadavia's  coming  into 
the  ministry,  to  wit,  on  the  5th  August,  I  was  promised  a  long  con 
ference  with  him  on  all  the  objects  of  my  agency,  but  as  he  came  to 
me  in  company  of  Mr.  Luca,  I  could  only  hold  some  desultory  con 
versation  touching  cursorily  on  some  topics.  Mr.  R.  then  promised 
me  for  the  next  Thursday  a  particular  audience,  but  I  am  sorry  to 
say  that  the  fulfilment  of  this  promise  has  been  delayed  from  week  to 
week  to  this  hour. 

44 1  yesterday  saw  Mr.  Rivadavia  for  a  few  minutes,  and  again  re 
ceived  an  apology  for  his  delay  of  the  long  promised  conference.  I 
took  occasion  to  say  that  f  was  aware  of  his  unceasing  occupation 
in  the  arduous  place  he  held,  and  must  conform  to  his  convenience, 
but  that  there  was  one  subject  on  which  I  had  been  instructed  to  com 
municate  the  views  of  my  government,  and  which,  by  the  informa 
tion  daily  received,  became  most  imperiously  pressing,  as  interesting 
to  the  character  of  this  government,  which  I  knew  he  had  so  much 
at  heart.  I  then  stated  that,  by  late  advices  from  the  West  Indies, 


[  90  ]  13 

the  horrors  of  piracy,  which  had  so  justly  excited  universal  indigna 
tion,  were  daily  increasing,  as  well  hy  the  numbers  of  the  vessels 
as  by  their  strength  of  armament,  and  the  boldness  of  their  nefari 
ous  enterprizes;  that,  recently,  a  vessel  fitted  out  here  under  the 
name  of  the  Confederation  had  changed  her  name  and  her  comman 
der,  and  was  captured  under  the  commission  of  Artigas  by  a  French 
frigate  and  carried  into  Martinique,  from  whence  the  captain  and 
a  number  of  the  crew,  being  stamen  of  the  United  States,  had 
been  sent  to  Philadelphia  in  a  French  armed  brig  for  trial:  that  all 
these  vessels  were  notoriously  furnished  with  several  different  com 
missions,  and  according  to  the  privateering  regulations  of  this  pro 
vince,  they  were  to  be  deemed  pirates;  that  one  of  them  had  recently 
fired  on  a  government  brig  of  France,  arid  killed  the  commander; 
that  I  was  instructed  by  my  government  to  make  the  strongest  re 
monstrances  on  this  subject.  To  all  these  observations,  Mr.  Riva- 
da\  ia  replied  that  this  evil  would  no  longer  exist;  that  there  would 
soon  be  given  an  order  recalling  all  privateers;  that  he  was  fully  con 
vinced  that  the  most  important  object  with  this  government  is  to  ac 
quire  the  good  will  and  friendship  of  all  other  governments,  and  that 
he  was  determined  to  make  every  sacrifice  to  attain  this  great  end. 
He  said  that  governments  seated  in  perfect  peace  and  security  rea 
soned  calmly  on  these  subjects,  but  that  this  country  had  experienced 
so  many  difficulties  in  its  struggle  for  independence  that  the  govern 
ment  had  been  compelled  to  adopt  the  strongest  measures  against  the 
Spanish  commerce,  but,  said  he,  "  this  is  now  all  finished." 

**  At  the  moment  I  am  writing,  a  salvo  of  artillery  and  the  most 
extravagant  demonstrations  of  joy  through  the  streets,  announce  the 
capture  of  Lima  by  San  Martin's  besieging  army.  If  this  uews  be 
true,  it  puts  the  seal  to  the  independence  of  South  America.  The 
Spanish  royalty,  driven  from  its  last  hope  in  these  provinces,  and 
enlightened  by  a  Representative  Government,  will,  I  think,  within 
six  months,  acknowledge  their  independence." 


Extract  of  a  letter  from  John  M.  Forbes,  Esq.  Agent  of  the  United 
States  at  Buenos  Ayres9  to  the  Secretary  of  State,  dated  llth  Sep 
tember,  1821. 

"  Enclosed  I  transmit  an  important  state  paper  published  here,  a 
manifest  of  the  Governor  and  his  Secretary,  on  the  project  present 
ed  to  the  honorable  Junta  in  relation  to  the  Congress  now  assembled 
at  Cordova,  together  with  the  project  submitted,  which,  as  will  be 
seen,  is  intended  to  lay  the  foundation  for  future  federation.  Messrs. 
Rivadavia  and  Garcia  are  pressing  with  great  vigour  their  system  of 
reform,  and,  by  a  strong  blow  at  the  root,  have  violently  shaken  the 
branches  of  the  tree  of  corruption.  Consternation  has  been  spread 
through  the  ranks  of  smugglers,  by  the  arrest  and  close  imprison 
ment,  the  day  before  yesterday,  of  Don  Fernando  Catderon,  first  In- 


14  [  99  ] 

liberal  salary,  lias  notoriously  patronized  the  unblushing  atrocities 
of  the  giant  smugglers,  who  have  totally  dilapidated  the  revenues  of 
the  country  tor  years  past  The  leading  man,  accustomed  to  ask 
and  obtain  every  thing  of  the  government,  yesterday  solicited  of  the 
governor  a  mitigation  of  the  imprisonment  of  Mr.  Calderon,  and 
perhaps  his  discharge  on  bail.  The  governor  consulted  Mr.  Riva- 
davia  on  the  expediency  of  listening  to  the  call  of  mercy.  The  lat 
ter  replied,  very  respectfully,  to  the  governor,  that  he  certainly  had 
the  power  and  the  responsibility  of  any  measures  he  might  adopt, 
but  that  if  his  Excellency  yielded  to  the  solicitations  in  question,  he 
(Mr.  R.)  must  decline  any  further  service  as  Secretary.  This  firm 
ness  prevailed.  The  truth  is,  Mr.  Rivadavia,  being  the  father  of  the 
incipient  system  of  order  and  virtue,  from  his  growing  influence  has 
become  indispensable  to  the  accomplishment  of  the,  views  now  cher 
ished  by  the  public  opinion.  If  this  system  should  prevail,  the  im 
mediate  effect  of  it  will  be,  the  prevalence  of  civil  over  military  in 
fluence." 


Extract  of  a  letter  From  John  M.  Forbes,  Jlgent  of  the  United  States 
at  Buenos  Jlyres,  to  the  Secretary  of  State,  dated  2,%th  September, 

1821. 

"  I  have  a  dispatch  from  Judge  Prevost,  containing  the  Gazettes 
from  Lima,  published  since  the  revolution  there,  which  I  shall 
forward  by  the  first  direct  opportunity.  The  night  before  the  last, 
(26th  instant)  the  Governor  (Rodrigues)  received  an  official  despatch 
jfrom  General  San  Martin,  confirming  the  previous  news  of  the  sur 
render  of  Lima  to  the  liberating  army,  and  accompanied  by  Gazettes 
giving  the  details  of  that  important  event.  Yesterday  morning  this 
great  event  was  announced  to  this  city  by  salvos  of  artillery  from  the 
fort  and  national  vessels,  which  were  repeated  at  noon,  and  at  sun 
set.  At  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the  governor,  attended  by  his 
ministers,  and  all  the  public  functionaries,  went  to  the  Cathedral  to 
attend  a  te  deurn,  and  in  the  evening  the  city  was  brilliantly  illumina 
ted;  other  public  festivities  are  said  to  be  contemplated,  among  which 
a  ball  by  the  Chilian  minister  at  the  Theatre,  and  another  by  the 
government,  are  spoken  of.  In  fact  this  event  is  generally  considered 
as  a  finishing  blow  in  the  contest  for  independence.  Enclosed,  is  a 
paper  just  published  here,  containing  a  familiar  letter  from  San  Mar 
tin,  (addressed  I  presume  to  his  father-in-law,  Mr,  Escalada,)  signed 
Pepe,  which  is  the  famiiiar  abbreviation  of  Joseph;  also,  various  pub 
lic  documents  relating  to  the  taking  possession  of  Lima,  a  correspon 
dence  between  San  Martin  and  the  Arch  Bishop  of  Lima,  the  declara 
tion  of  the  Cabildo,  Ace.  By  these  public  papers,  it  appears  that  San 
Martin  has  added  to  his  fame  by  the  moderation  and  respect  for 
public  opinion  which  he  has  manifested  on  this  great  occasion.  Eve 
ry  thing  here  breathes  joy  and  the  brightest  hope  of  the  perfection 


[  90  1  15 

of  their  political  happiness.  The  Congress  at  Cordova  is  now  en 
tirely  lost  in  the  contemplation  of  a  grand  Congress,  which  it  is  said 
will  be  agreed  on  hy  the  three  great  Republics  of  Peru,  Chili,  and 
La  Plata.  Perhaps  the  sister  Colombia  may  be  invited  to  this  family 
party." 

**  Enclosed,  I  send  you  copies  of  my  letter  to  Mr.  Rivadavia,  on  the 
subject  of  privateering,  or  rather  of  piracy,  dated  14th  September, 
eopyof  that  minister's  reply,  under  15th  September,  and  of  a  minute 
of  a  conference  I  had  with  him  on  the  17th  of  same  month.  Enclosed 
is  also  minute  of  a  previous  conference  with  said  minister,  on  the  5th 
August  last." 

"Among  the  important  events  which  have  occurred  on  this  side  of 
the  mountains,  I  must  not  omit  to  notice  the  total  destruction  of  the 
party  of  Jose  Miguel  Carrera,  and  the  public  execution  of  that  ac 
tive,  intelligent,  and  extraordinary  man.  Enclosed  I  herewith  trans 
mit  two  bulletins  published  here  concerning  this  event.  By  the  first 
it  will  appear,  that  a  Colonel  Don  Manuel  Arias  had  organized  a 
revolution  in  Carrera's  band,  which  he  communicated  to  the  Gover 
nor  of  Mendoza,  on  the  condition  of  saving  his  own  life  and  those  of 
some  of  his  adherents.  By  the  second,  entitled  **  Detail  of  the  de 
struction  of  Carrera,"  it  will  be  seen  that  Carrera's  party  was  to 
tally  defeated  by  the  Mendozinos  on  the  31st  August,  and  that,  ou 
the  4th  of  this  month,  Carrera  was  shot  on  the  public  square  at  Men 
doza;  he  died  with  the  most  heroic  courage,  asking  for  only  favor  of 
his  conquerors,  that  he  might  be  buried  in  the  same  grave  with  his 
two  brothers,  who  were  shot  in  the  same  city  on  a  former  occasion; 
it  would  be  well  for  humanity  if  the  story  of  this  event  stopped  here; 
but,  I  again  have  to  state  another  act  of  savage  ferocity:  the  mur 
dered  body  of  this  brave  and  distinguished  man  was  shockingly  mu 
tilated,  his  head  was  cut  off  and  exposed  in  the  square  of  Mendoza; 
his  right  arm  was  sent  to  the  Governor  of  Cordova,  and  his  left  to 
the  Punta  Sari  Luis.  When  these  particulars  were  known  here,  they 
excited  a  sentiment  of  horror;  and  it  has  even  been  said,  that  if  this 
victim  of  the  ferocity  of  their  half  savage  brethren  at  Mendoza  had 
been  sent  to  this  place,  even  his  life  would  have  been  probably  spared. 

"Carrera,  by  his  great  personal  resources,  had  proved  the  most  dan 
gerous  enemy  of  the  present  state  of  things  in  these  Provinces,  and 
had  San  Martin  failed  in  Peru,  and  Carrera  had  survived  that  fai 
lure,  he  would  have  menaced  the  tranquillity  of  Chili;  thus  his  death 
is  a  great  event  for  the  present  rulers  here,  although  the  manner  of 
it  may  be  very  revolting  to  their  more  civilized  breasts." 

"  October  I,  1821. 

"  Since  writing  the  foregoing,  there  has  been  a  further  publication 
of  papers  connected  with  the  occupation  of  Lima,  containing  certain 
proclamations  of  Generals  San  Martin  and  Arenales;  this  publica 
tion  I  herewith  enclose.  The  new  ministers  have  very  judiciously 
availed  themselves  of  the  present  moment  to  propose  to  the  Junta  a 
general  amnesty,  and  that  all  those  who  have  been  exiled  far  dift'ur- 


16  [  90  "1 

ences  of  political  opinion,  should  be  recalled  to  the  bosom  of  their 
country;  this  proposition,  so  worthy  the  high-minded  cause  of  the 
present  ministry,  and  so  well  calculated  to  conciliate  all  parties,  is 
to  he  discussed  this  evening  at  the  Junta.  I  shall  attend  the  debate, 
seats  being  assigned  to  the  foreign  agents.  Among  the  events  tend 
ing  to  consolidate  the  moral  and  physical  force  of  these  provinces,  it 
is  said,  that  a  revolution  has  taken  place  in  the  Entre  Rios,  against 
the  brother  of  the  slain  Ramirez.  At  the  head  of  this  revolution  is 
a  Mr.  Mansilla,  of  whose  rank  and  history  I  am  ignorant.  The  flo 
tilla  of  this  province  is  co -ope rating,  and  further  assistance  has  been 
asked  of  Lopez,  the  Governor  of  Santa  Fe.  The  trade  of  the  Baxa- 
da  has  been  opened  in  consequence  of  this  revolution.  I  just  now  met 
Mr.  Rivadavia  in  the  street,  and  took  the  occasion  to  remind  him  of 
the  decree  w-hich  he  had  promised  to  send  me  on  the  subject  of  pri 
vateering:  he  said,  it  depended  only  on  him  to  reduce  it  to  writing, 
which  he  had  not  yet  had  time  to  do;  he  has  given  me  reason  to  hope 
that  he  will  call  on  me  to-morrow;  but  the  Herculean  labor  of  cleans 
ing  the  Augean  stables  so  entirely  occupies  him,  day  and  night,  I 
sometimes  fear  he  will  be  quite  exhausted  before  he  can  accomplish  it.'* 


Copy  of  a  letter  from  John  M.  Forbes,  Esq.  United  States9  agent  at 
BUMIOS  Jiyres9  to  Mr.  Hividavia,  Minister  of  Foreign  Relations. 

BUENOS  AYRES, 

1 4th  September,  1821. 

SIR:  Although  I  have  been  more  than  ten  months  in  this  city,  I 
have  never  until  now  found  a  moment,  when,  under  all  circumstances, 
I  deemed  it  expedient  to  lay  before  this  government  the  sentiments 
and  views  of  that  of  the  United  States,  in  relation  fcf  many  interest 
ing  subjects  as  contained  in  the  instructions  I  received  on  my  depar 
ture  from  Washington.  On  the  recent  organization  of  the  government, 
I  intimated  to  you  the  desire  to  hold  a  full  and  frank  conference; 
which  you  had  the  goodness  to  promise  me  at  the  commencement  of 
the  past  month,  but  which  has  been  unavoidably  delayed  by  your 
more  pressing  occupations. 

Appreciating  as  1  do  the  great  and  efficient  efforts  now  making  by 
you  in  the  cause  of  your  country,  I  should  most  willingly  continue  to 
wait  your  convenience  for  the  proposed  conference,  were  I  not  impell 
ed  by  recent  information,  to  press  on  the  early  attention  of  this  go 
vernment  one  of  the  subjects  on  which  I  am  instructed  by  that  of  the 
United  States;  I  mean  those  indiscriminate  violences  which  are  daily 
committed  on  the  ocean  agairtt  the  peaceful  commerce  of  unoffending 
nations,  under  the  various  flags  of  the  South  American  proviwces. 

It  is  now  a  long  time  since  those  violences  have  called  forth  th« 
most  [>ointed  reprobation  of  many  governments  in  Kurope  and  of  that 
of  the  United  States.  Several  governments  have  made  active  efforts 


C  90  ]  17 

to  repress  them  by  force.     These  efforts  have  been  unavailing — these 
privileged  plunderers 

"  Can  add  colors  to  the  chainelion, 

"  Change  shapes  with  Proteus  for  advantage  " 

There  is  nothing  fixed,  but  the  blackness  of  their  purpose  and  the 
boldness  of  their  atrocities.  They  are  furnished  with  various  com 
missions,  and  navigated  by  crews  of  men,  without  country,  without 
morality,  and  without  other  ties  than  those  of  crime  and  plunder. 
By  the  privateering  regulations  of  Buenos  Ayrcs,  a  privateer  owned 
here,  or  commissioned  by  this  government,  who  shall  be  furnished 
with  a  commission  from  any  other  prince  or  republic,  even  if  allied 
with  this,  "  shall  be  adjudged  a  good  prize,  and  her  captain  or  com 
mander  punished  as  pirates."  It  is  therefore  under  the  sanction  of 
its  own  laws,  that  I  presume  to  call  the  early  and  efficacious  inter- 
.  vention  of  this  government  to  vindicate  those  violated  laws.  But,  sir, 
it  is,  above  all,  from  a  full  faith  in  those  sentiments  of  honor,  that 
love  of  order  and  justice  which  so  eminently  distinguish  every  step  of 
the  present  administration,  that  I  derive  the  strongest  hope  that  this 
call  will  not  be  disregarded.  The  public  gazettes  recently  received 
from  the  United  States  contain  several  well  authenticated  statements 
of  new  outrages  committed  by  tiles*1  freebooters,  whose  numbers  are 
multiplied,  and  the  boldness  of  their  wicked  enterprizes  increased, 
by  their  impunity.  I  will  not  swell  this  written  communication  by 
any  extracts  from  the  information  received;  but  hope  that  at  an  early 
day,  it  will  be  convenient  for  you  to  admit  me  to  a  personal  conference, 
when  I  shall  happy  to  communicate  with  you,  in  that  spirit  of  frank 
ness,  which  is  the  best  pledge  of  friendship,  as  well  the  facts  in  rny 
possession,  as  the  feelings  of  the  government  of  the  United  States  on 
this  highly  interesting  and  important  subject. 

I  avail  myself  with  pleasure  of  this  occasion  to  renew  to  you,  Mr, 
Minister,  the  assurances  of  my  most  distinguished  consideration  and 
respect. 

JOHN  M.  FORBES. 
To  the  Hon.  Mr.  RIVADAVIA, 

Minister  of  Foreign  Relations,  Buenos  Ayres. 


Mr.  Ri-vadavia  to  Mr.  Forbes. 

BUENOS  AYRES, 

1 5  th  September,  1821. 

The  Minister  of  Government  and  Foreign  Relations  has  had  the 
honor  of  receiving  the  official  note  from  the  agent  of  the  United  States 
under  yesterday's  date,  and  he  considers  it  as  his  particular  duty  to 
make  an  acknowledgment  of  the  honorable  distinction  the  said  agent 
shews  towards  him.  With  respect  to  the  principal  affair  therein  con- 
S 


18  [  90  ] 

taincd,  lie  can  only  repeat  what  he  had  the  satisfaction  to  make  him 
acquainted  with  in  his  last  interview;  which  was,  that  the  govern 
ment  had  adopted  every  measure  in  its  power  to  suppress  the  evils 
committed  by  privateers  of  this  country  towards  the  commerce  of 
neutral  nations  from  the  abuse  of  their  commissions.  Nevertheless, 
the  Minister  of  Government  and  Foreign  Relations,  feeling  desirous 
of  contributing  towards  the  completion  of  these  measures,  as  far  as 
they  are  capable  of  being  made  perfect,  he  will  be  happy  to  receive 
any  further  explanation  on  this  subject  that  the  agent  of  the  United 
States  may  think  proper  to  give  him.  For  which  purpose  it  will  be 
taken  as  an  honor,  if  the  agent  would  take  the  trouble  to  call  on  the 
minister  at  his  house  on  Monday  morning  of  the  17th  inst.  at  eleven 
o'clock. 

The  minister  of  government  and  foreign  relations  expresses  his 
thanks  to  the  agent  fur  the  distinction  he  confers  upon  him,  and  begs 
to  return  it  by  the  assurances  of  his  consideration  and  respect. 

BERNARDO  R1VADAVIA. 

To  JOHN-  M.  FORBES,  Esq. 

Agent  of  the  United  Mates  o/JV.  A. 


Extract  of  a  minute  of  a  conference  with  Mr.  Rivaddvia,  Minister  of 

Mate. 

BUENOS  AYRES, 
Monday,  1 7 th  Sep tember,  1821. 

I  received  this  morning  at  ten  o'clock,  by  the  hands  of  one  of  the 
clerk's  of  the  Department,  an  answer  from  the  Minister  of  State  to 
my  letter  of  the  14th  instant,  containing  an  invitation  to  a  conference 
at  11  o'clock  at  his  house.     Although  the  notice  was  too  short  to  ad 
mit  of  any  preparation,  I  gladly  accepted  the  invitation,  taking  with 
me  my  instructions,  including  those  intended  for  the  late  Commodore 
Perry.     I  found  the  minister,  Mr.  Rivadavia,  quite  alone,  and  was, 
as  always,  well  received.     I  commenced  my  conversation  by  very 
sincere  assurances  of  the  enthusiasm  I  felt  in  the  present  march  of 
events,  and  compliments  to  the  minister  on  his  zealous  efforts  for  the 
establishment  of  order  in  the  administration,  and  the  formation  of  a 
sound  public  opinion  in  the  country.     I  then  observed,  that  not  hav 
ing  had  time  to  prepare  extracts  I  had  brought  my  instructions  in 
Kctenso,  and  would  ask  permission,  in  frankness  and  friendship,  to 
read  certain  parts  of  them  in  the  original  language  in  which  they 
were  written,  which  I  was  aware  was  well  understood  by  him.     I 
t!;en  read  the  assurances  of  the  good  will  of  the  United  States  towards 
these  provinces,  and  the  interest  they  had  constantly  felt  in  the  suc 
cess  of  their  efforts  for  independence;  I  continued  through  the  history 
of  our  diplomatic  correspondence  and  measures  in  relation    to  the 
South  American  affairs,  to  all  which  the  minister  listened  with  much 
attention  and  apparent  approbation.     When  I  communicated  to  him 
the  fact,  that  the  United  States  government  had  proposed  to  those  of 


I  90  ]  19 

France  and  England  to  acknowledge,  in  concert  with  them,  the  In 
dependence  of  tiueuos  Ay  res;  in  reply  to  my  question,  he  confessed 
his  previous  ignorance*  of  that  fact.  I  then  continued  the  forcible  ex 
positions  in  the  instructions  to  Commodore  Perry,  of  the  evils  and 
horrors  of  the  system  of  piracy  as  practised  by  vessels  carrying  va 
rious  colors  of  the  South  American  provinces,  and  stated  to  him 
that  the  United  States  would  not  acknowledge  as  legal  any  commis 
sion  granted  in  blank;  which,  he  said,  was  perfectly  just,  and  con 
tinued  by  saying,  that  he  was  fully  sensible  of  all  the  injury  which 
had  been  done  to  the  cause  and  character  of  these  provinces,  and  de 
precated  as  much  as  any  one  the  atrocities  which  had  been  commit 
ted  on  neutral  commerce;  that  the  government  had  determined  on  an 
entire  change  of  system,  and  that,  probably,  this  day  a  decree  would 
be  drawn  up  revoking  all  privateer  commissions,  and  ordering  them 
all  to  return  within  a  given  period.  But  this  decree  would  be  com 
municated  to  me,  when  it  would  be  seen  if  any  thing  more  efficacious 
remained  to  be  done  within  the  scope  of  the  government's  authority. 
I  observed  that  the  decision  of  the  government  was  in  perfect  unison 
\vith  the  whole  system  now  going  into  operation,  eminently  wise  and 
politic,  and  would  have  a  most  important  influence  on  the  opinion  of 
other  nations  in  regard  to  this  country;  that,  as  nothing  had  so  much 
operated  to  damp  the  enthusiasm  of  my  countrymen  in  favor  of  South 
American  liberty  as  the  enormities  committed  under  the  Patriot  flags, 
so  nothing  would  so  effectually  tend  to  reanimate  their  good  wishes 
as  the  suppression  of  those  crying  abuses.  I  stated  to  the  minister 
the  measures  adopted  by  Congress  to  repress  the  predatory  system, 
and  particularly  the  act  of  20th  of  April,  1815,  of  v  Inch  he  requested 
and  1  promised  a  copy.  I  next  read  from  the  instruction  of  1 2th  Ju 
ly,  1820,  the  remarks  on  the  subject  of  commercial  preferences,  and 
the  magnanimous  feeling  with  which  the  government  of  the  United 
States  disclaimed  any  wish  to  barter  an  acknowledgment  of  the  in 
dependence  of  these  provinces  for  any  exclusive  advantages  in  their 
commerce;  at  the  same  time  their  firm  reliance  that  no  such  exclusive 
privileges  would  be  granted  to  other  nations  to  the  prejudice  of  the 
United  States.  On  this  Mr.  Rivadavia  assured  me  that  it  was  the 
firm  determination  of  this  government  to  grant  no  exclusive  privi 
leges  of  commerce  to  any  nation  whatever,  and  that  I  might  commu 
nicate  this  decision  to  my  government  with  an  assurance  that  the 
most  complete  reliance  might  be  placed  on  it.  The  minister  pro 
ceeded,  that  his  most  decided  opinion  was,  that  no  measure  what 
ever  ought  to  be  taken  to  solicit  an  acknowledgment  of  the  in-, 
dependence  of  these  provinces  by  any  government;  he  expressed 
himself  in  flattering  terms  of  his  good  will  towards  me  personally ; 
and  added,  that  it  would  be  an  abuse  of  the  confidence  I  had  evinced 
towards  him,  if  he  wrere  to  engage  me  to  make  any  representations  to 
my  government  tending  to  that  end;  and  that  he  was  much  less  dis 
posed  to  take  any  such  measure  towards  any  government  of  Europe. 
That  such  proceeding  must  operate,  if  unsuccessful,  to  the  humilia 
tion  of  the  provinces;  and,  if  successful,  to  mislead  the  people  by  per- 


20  [  90  ] 

stiading  them  that  such  recognition  was  all  sufficient  to  the  poli 
tical  existence  and  happiness;  that,  in  his  opinion,  the  most  effica 
cious  system  would  be  to  establish  order  and  wise  institutions  of  go 
vernment  throughout  the  provinces,  and  to  shew  themselves  worthy  of 
thcv  ";ternity  of  other  nations,  when  it  would  be  voluntarily  offered; 
thai  /ich  voluntary  recognition,  in  every  point  of  view,  would  he 
much  more  beneficial  than  that  protection  which  should  result  from  a 
compromise  of  honour  or  interest;  that  he  had  told  his  countrymen, 
de  haute  voix,  his  sentiments  on  the  important  topic  of  self-govern 
ment  ;  that  much  was  to  be  done,  but  that  he  hoped  to  see  the  suc 
cessful  progress  of  a  sound  system  of  domestic  and  foreign  policy. 
Our  conference  lasted,  with  a  short  interruption,  nearly  two  hours; 
and  we  separated  with  assurances  of  mutual  satisfaction. 
An  exact  minute,  taken  immediately  after  the  conference. 

J.  M.  FORBES. 


BUENOS  AYRES,  22d  September,  1821. 

SIR:  Enclosed  I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  a  correct  copy  of  the 
act  of  Congress,  passed  on  the  20th  April,  1818,  for  the  punishment 
of  certain  crimes  against  the  United  States,  to  which  act  reference 
was  had  in  the  conference  to  which  you  did  me  the  honor  to  admit 
me  on  Monday,  17th  instant. 

I  pray  you,  Mr.  Minister,  to  accept  the  renewed  assurances  of  my 
highest  consideration  and  respect.  J.  M.  FORBES. 

To  the  Hon.  B.  RIVADAVIA,  Minister,  $-c. 


Mr.  Rivada-via  to  Mr.  Forbes. 

BUENOS  AYRES,  6th  October,  1821. 

The  minister  of  government  and  foreign  relations,  in  consequence 
of  the  offer  made,  has  the  honor  to  transmit  to  the  agent  of  the  United 
States  a  copy  of  the  decree  which  has  just  been  issued  by  the  De 
partment  of  War  and  Marine,  concerning  privateering. 

The  minister  salutes  the  agent  with  his  most  distinguished  consi 
deration. 

BERNARDO  RIVADAVIA. 


DECREE. 

DEPARTMENT  or  WAR. 
BUENOS  AYRES,  6th  October,  1821. 
Among  the  resourscs  which  the  unfortunate  rights  of  war  have 


[  90  ]  21 

rendered  lawful,  and  its  object  necessary,  is  privateering.  The  wars 
of  the  independence  of  the  provinces  of  Holland,  and  of  the  United 
Statrs  of  North  America,  have  proved  that  this  kind  of  warfare  is 
thr  most  advantageous  for  a  country  which  prepares  to  defend  its 
independence  against  a  more  ancient  and  remote  country  that  lias 
governed  it.  It  is  impossible  to  prevent  or  repress  all  the  abuses 
which  may  result  from  privateering.  The  government  which  finds 
itself  under  the  painful  necessity  of  authorizing,  and  even  of  encou 
raging  it,  has  only  two  ways  of  lessening  its  illegal  consequences, 
and  in  so  far  has  only  two  obligations  in  this  respect.  The  first  is, 
to  dictate  such  rules,  and  take  such  precautions  and  guarantees,  as 
may  correct  abuses,  not  suffering  them  to  pass  unpunished.  In  this 
respect,  the  government  of  these  provinces  has  fulfilled  its  duty,  and 
the  regulation  of  privateers  proves  it.  The  other  obligation  is,  to 
put  an  end  to  this  kind  of  warfare,  either  when  it  shall  be  no  longer 
necessary  to  tfoe  object  which  induced  it,  or  when  the  effect  which  it 
produces  no  longer  equals  the  risks  and  inconvenience  which  result 
from  it.  The  government  considers  these  two  cases  as  having  taken 
place,  and  in  virtue  thereof,  it  has  agreed,  and  now  decrees,  the  fol 
lowing  articles: 

1.  In   future,  no  commission  of  privateering  whatever  shall  be 
granted  without  a  previous  solemn  publication,  expressing  the  cause 
which  obliges  the  government  to  have  recourse  to  this  measure. 

2.  Every  individual  who  possesses  any  commissions,  and  shall  be 
now  in  the  territory  of  this  province,  shall  be  obliged  to  present  it  to 
the  minister  of  marine,  within  fifteen  days  from  the  date  of  this  de 
cree. 

3.  Those  individuals  who  hold  privateer  commissions,  and  are  in 
countries  situated  on  the  other  side  of  the  equinoctial  line,  or  on  the 
coast  of  the  Pacific,  shall  be  held  to  present  the  said  commissions  at 
the  ministry  of  marine  within  the  term  of  eight  months. 

4.  The  sureties  given  shall  answer  for  the  fulfilment  of  the  fore 
going  articles. 

5.  Every  commander  of  a  vessel,  armed  as  a  privateer  in  virtue  of 
a  commission  of  any  one  of  the  governments,  which  have  commanded 
in  this  capital,  on  sight  of  this  decree,  shall  cease  to  cruize,  and 
shall  put  into  port  to  disarm  and  return  his  commission. 

6.  Every  one  who  shall  contravene  the  preceding  article  will  in 
cur  the  pains  of  piracy. 

7.  Every  vessel  which,  after  the  term  of  eight  months  from  the 
date  of  this  decree,  shall  continue  to  cruise  under  the  authority  of  a 
commission  of  the  government  of  this  country,  shall  be  treated  as  a 
pirate. 

8.  The  minister  of  war  and  marine  is  charged  with  the  execution 
of  this  decree.  MARTIN  RODRIGUEZ, 

•Minister  of  War  and  Marine. 
FRANCISCO  DE  IA  CRUZ. 


22  [  90  ] 

Copy  of  a  letter  from  John  M.  Forbes9  Esq.  Agent  of  the  United  States 
at  Buenos  Ayres,  to  the  Secretary  of  State,  dated  8th  October,  1821. 

SIR:  The  detention  of  the  vessel,  by  which  I  had  prepared  to  send 
the  foregoing  despatch,  furnishes  an  opportunity  to  communicate  a 
translation  of  the  promised  decree,  for  suppressing  privateering. — 
It  has  not  yet  heen  published  here,  but  will  undoubtedly  appear  in 
the  first  official  register,  which  will  perhaps  be  printed  to-morrow  or 
the  next  day.  I  hope  that  the  terms  of  it  will  prove  satisfactory  to 
the  government  of  the  United  States.  Although  the  right  is  reser 
ved  of  resorting  again  to  this  kind  of  warfare,  yet  I  hope  that  the 
restrictions  under  which  it  will  be  renewed  will  be  more  efficient  to 
guard  against  those  ahuses  which  have  heretofore  been  so  justly  and 
extensively  complained  of. 

By  the  schooner  Essex  to  sail  to-morrow  for  Providence,  I  shall 
have  the  honor  to  transmit  duplicates,  together  with  Jildge  Prevost's 
despatch,  mentioned  in  the  foregoing. 

I  am,  &c. 

JOHN  M.  FORBES. 

October  l\th,  1821. 

P.  S.  By  this  vessel,  the  Essex,  via  Providence,  I  send  Judge  Pre 
vost's  despatch,  and  a  large  file  of  newspapers.  The  decree  against 
privateering  was  published  yesterday  in  the  "  Registro  OffidaL" 

Hon.  JOHN  QUINCY  ADAMS, 

Secretary  of  State,  Washington,  D.  C. 


Extracts  of 'a  letter from  J.  M.  Forbes,  Esq.  to  the  Secretary  of  State, 
dated  at  Buenos  Jiyres,  October  26,  1821. 

"  I  have  previously  reported  the  total  destruction  of  the  parties  of 
Ramirez  and  Carrera,  together  with  the  death  of  those  chiefs,  the  bar 
barous  mutilation  of  their  bodies,  &c.  By  these  events  the  influence 
of  this  Province  over  the  others  is  much  increased,  and  by  the  wise 
course  of  the  present  administration,  the  moral  force  of  a  sound  and 
exemplary  political  deportment  will  be  added  to  the  success  of  their 
arms,  and  I  hope  that  the  day  is  not  far  distant,  when  all  the  jarring 
jealousies  which  have  hitherto  so  perniciously  counteracted  the  pro 
gress  of  civil  liberty  will  be  put  to  silence,  and  the  wise  men  of  every 
section  of  this  country,  will  be  brought  to  a  cordial  co-operation  to  at 
tain  the  high  objects  of  their  political  destiny.  But  much,  very  much, 
remains  to  ho  done  before  the  general  union  of  the  great  sections  of 
this  almost  boundless  country  in  any  one  system  of  government 
can  be  effected." 

"  In  the  mean  time,  Rivadavia  and  Garcia,  firm  as  they  are  en 
lightened  and  patriotic,  are  pursuing  "the  even  tenor  of  their 


[  90  ]  23 

way."  They  Uave  added  public  credit  to  the  other  sinews  of  war 
which  this  province  before  possessed,  by  repaying  with  great  punctuali 
ty  in  gold  several  loans,  (a  thing  without  example  in  the  history  of  this 
revolution;)  they  enjoy  now  to  so  great  a  degree  the  confidence  of  the 
community,  that  I  believe  they  could  borrow,  to  any  reasonable 
amount,  for  an  immediate  exigency.  It  is  said,  also,  that  an  entirely 
new  systeai  of  finance  is  agreed  on,  and  will  appear  in  a  few  days. 
By  this  tariff,  as  it  has  been  represented  10  me,  the  duties,  with  a  very 
few  exceptions,  will  be  ad  valorem,  and  will  vary  from  five  to  fifteen 
per  cent.  Every  possible  measure  is  taken  to  prevent  smuggling, 
and  public  opinion  and  morality  are  cherished  by  the  government. 
If,  therefore,  Buenos  Ayres,  in  all  the  darkness  of  her  most  gloomy 
period,  public  sentiment  paralyzed  by  deadly  dissensions,  and  public 
resources  completely  dilapidated,  has  been  able  to  struggle  success 
fully  against  the  machinations  of  the  other  provinces,  it  is  not  too 
rash  to  expect  that  when  she  fights  with  a  two  fold  armament  of  rea 
son  and  force,  seconded  by  a  vigorous  public  credit,  the  v  ictory  must 
eventually  be  hers.  The  most  deplorable  result,  however,  of  these 
continued  agitations,  is  the  necessity  of  continuing  an  onerous  milita 
ry  establishment." 

"The  most  alarming  state  of  agitation  prevails  in  the  neighbour 
ing  kingdom  of  Brazil.  It  was  some  days  since  confidently  report 
ed,  otrthe  authority  of  Captain  McLean,  of  the  British  government 
brig  Braver,  in  six  days  from  Rio  to  Monte  Video,  that  Prince  Don 
Pedro,  was  to  have  been  crowned  king  of  Brazil,  on  the  13th  of  the 
present  month.  Subsequent  accounts  contradict  this  fact,  and  it  is 
now  no  longer  believed.  It  is,  however,  well  known  that  the  pub 
lic  mind  there,  is  in  a  most  feverish  state,  and  should  civil  war  burst 
forth,  it  would  be  the  signal  of  the  emancipation  of  a  numberless 
horde  of  slaves,  and  the  most  horrid  scenes  of  blood  and  devastation 
would  overwhelm  that  kingdori,  and  eventually  threaten  these  pro 
vinces,  where  it  would  find  easy  victims  in  the  scanty  white  popula 
tion  here.  The  progress  of  this  all-destroying  flame  could  only  be 
arrested  by  the  Indians,  and,  in  such  a  conflict,  this  delightful  country 
would  be  totallv  lost  to  civilization." 


Mr.  Forbes  to  the  Secretary  of  State. — Extract. 

BUENOS  AYRES,  8th  Mv.  1821* 

"  Since  my  last  respects,  we  have  received  news  from  Lima  and 
Chili,  by  which  it  appears  that  the  royalist  army,  which  had  evacua 
ted  Lima  on  6th  July,  under  La  Serna,  had  returned  on  the  22d  Au- 
fust  under   command  of   Canterac — La  Serna  remaining  sick  at 
auja;  the  strength  of  the  returning  army  was  between  three  and 
four  thousand  men;  the  official  accounts  say,  that  they  avoided  an 
engagement  with  San  Martin,  bat  I  have  seen  several  private  let^ 


24  [  90  ] 

ters,  and  one  i'roni  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  who  was  two  days 
in  San  Martin's  camp,  in  view  of  the  royalist  troops,  and  who  states 
that  San  Martin's  force  was  much  superior,  and  extremely  anxious  to 
give  hattle;  but  that  San  Martin  retired,  and  permitted  the  unmo 
lested  march  of  the  royalists  into  Callao.  The  motive  of  such  a  pro 
ceeding  is  generally  deemed  strange  and  incomprehensible;  but  it 
occurs  to  me,  that  San  Martin  being  sure  of  eventually  forcing  the 
garrison  of  Callao,  augmented  as  it  is,  to  a  capitulation,  prefers  to 
continue  his  influence  by  protracting  the  military  conflict,  until  the 
civil  organization  of  this  new-born  republic  shall  be  completed,  ra 
ther  than  to  put  down  the  remnant  of  royal  troops,  and  leave  the 
country  to  the  agonies  of  conflicting  factions;  or,  in  a  few  words,  to 
make  himself  at  his  own  choice,  King,  Dictator,  or  Director;  he  has 
at  present  taken  the  head  of  the  civil  and  military  power  with  the 
title  of  Protector.  All  accounts  agree  in  the  enthusiasm  for  inde 
pendence  prevailing  in  Lima.  On  the  late  return  of  the  royalist 
troops,  it  became  necessary  to  imprison  twelve  hundred  old  Spa 
niards,  as  'tis  said,  to  preserve  them  from  the  popular  fury.  I  have 
conversed  on  these  events,  with  several  gentlemen  well  acquainted 
with  Peru  and  Lima,  and  particularly  with  a  sensible  friar  native, 
and  until  recently  resident  at  Lima,  who  agrees  in  the  general 
opinion,  that  the  return  of  the  troops  to  Callao  is  a  most  fortunate 
event,  inasmuch  as  it  places  the  termination  of  the  war  in  the  hands 
of  San  Martin;  whereas,  had  La  Serna  kept  the  country,  and  in 
creased  his  forces,  he  might  have  continued  the  war  for  a  very  Jong 
time.  I  send  enclosed  a  bulletin  issued  on  the  subject,  by  which  you 
will  be  able  to  see  and  appreciate  events  in  their  detail. 

"  Of  this  province  I  have  only  to  say,  that  there  are  still  active, 
but  occult  efforts  making  to  overturn  the  present  administration,  and 
bring  the  Puyrredon  party  into  power." 


Extracts  of  a  letter  from  John  M.  Forbes,  Esq.  Agent  of  the  Uni 
ted  States  at  Buenos  Jlyres,  to  the  Secretary  of  tate,  dated  13th 
November,  1821. 

<*  Since  my  last,  we  have  the  important  news  of  the  surrender  of 
Callao;  I  send  enclosed  the  Bulletin  published  here,  by  which  you 
will  see  the  particulars  of  the  capitulation.  Private  letters  state 
that  Canter  ac's  army  was  much  harassed  on  its  retreat,  arid  were 
still  pursued.  Jt  is  said  that  eight  hundred  of  his  army  had  joined 
that  of  San  Martin.  It  was  thought  that  there  would  not  remain  five 
hundred  men  to  join  La  tierna.  I  have  seen  a  private  letter  which 
states  that  when  the  report  reached  Lima  of  Cantarac's  approach, 
funds  to  the  amount  of  live  or  six  hundred  thousand  dollars  were 
embarked  on  board  the  ships  at  L'Ancon.  Lord  Cochrane  had  been 
for  some  time  making  every  exeriori  to  procure  money  to  pay  off  the 
crews  of  his  ships,  but  without  effect. 


[  90  J  25 

On  hearing  that  this  amount  was  on  board  the  different 
transports,  he  repaired  to  Ancon  with  theO'Higgins  and  Esmeralda, 
and  forcibly  took  possession  of  the  whole  sum,  in  defiance  of  the 
strong  representations  of  the  general,  and  immediately  paid  the  ar 
rearage  due  to  his  men.  Report  snys,  that  he  has  not  dared  to  put 
his -foot  on  shore  since  he  took  this  violent  measure. 

November  \6th,  1821. 

The •"  Registro  Official"  No.  13,  published  yesterday,  contains 
the  resolution  of  the  honorable  Junta  on  the  subject  of  general  am 
nesty,  and  oblivion  of  political  acts  and  opinions,  together  with  a  de 
cree  of  the  governor,  by  which  all  those  who  have  been  exiled  under 
the  special  powers  vested  in  the  Executive  by  tiie  decree  of  6th  Oc- 
totyer,  1820,  and  all  who  have  voluntarily  absented  themselves  to 
avoid  the  evils  of  political  agitation,  may  forthwith  return  without 
passports:  only  nine  persons  are  excepted  from  this  amnesty,  and 
they  are  not  named. 

It  is  said  that  an  officer  has,  arrived  here  sent  by  the  governor  of 
Tucuman,  charged  to  solicit  military  aid  to  deliver  that  province 
and  its  vicinity  of  the  presence  of  the  royalist  troops,  and  at  the 
same  time  to  declare  a  perfect  coincidence  of  opinion  with  that  put 
forth  by  this  government  on  the  subject  of  the  confederation.  Every 
thing  continues  to  go  on  well  here.  Enclosed!  send  a  printed  paper, 
entitled  "-Dictamen  de  un  Jlrribeno,"  (which  means  citizen  of  the 
interior  provinces.)  It  goes  to  maintain  the  inexpediency  of  a  con 
federation  at  present,  which  is  the  ground  taken  by  this  province." 


Extract  of  a  letter  from  Mr.  Prevost*  agent  of  the  United  States,  in 
<  outk  America,  to  the    ecretary  of  *'tate,  dated 

"  ST.  JAGO  DE  CHILI,  June  30,  1821. 

"  In  my  last,  I  mentioned  the  departure  of  Lord  Cochrarie  from 
Huacho,  with  600  troops,  for  the  purpose  of  landing  them  some 
where  to  the  southward  of  the  capital,  so  as  to  intercept  the  supplies 
from  that  quarter.  It  is  now  ascertained,  that  his  lordship  has  di 
rected  this  force"  to  a  different  point,  with  objects  distinct  from  those 
contemplated  by  the  General.  After  proceeding  to  Pisco  and  pillag 
ing  that  place,  he  went  to  Arica,  where  there  was  a -considerable 
quantity  of  merchandise  in  deposite  for  the  market  of  Lima,  took 
possession  of  the  town  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  and  as  much  of 
the  moveable  property  as  he  could  grasp.  It  is  the  third,  or  fourth 
time,  different  sections  of  the  coast  have  been  thus  distressed  by  a 
mode  of  warfare  injurious  to  the  cause,  always  at  variance  with  that 
strictly  enjoined  and  as  rigidly  adhered  to  by  the  General.  In  addi 
tion  to  which,  he  has  lately  committed  outrages  upon  the  British 
flag,  by  impressing  seamen,  and  by  detaining  the  vessels  from  which 
they  were  taken,  in  order  to  use  them  as  transports.  These  acts,  of 
4 


26  [  90  ] 

course,  are  disavowed  by  the  government,  but  it  has  given  rise  to  a 
correspondence  which  threatened  a  serious  result.  Among  other 
subjects,  that  of  the  blockade  was  introduced,  the  one  insisting  upon 
its  nullity  in  toto,  if  contemplated  to  embrace  any  portion  of  the 
coast  not  covered  by  an  actual  force;  the  other  denying  the  conse 
quence,  and  maintaining  the  sufficiency  of  the  force.  Although  this 
government  might  have  sustained  the  position  assumed,  by  recurring 
.  to  British  practice,  yet,  in  their  situation,  it  was  neither  prudent  or  jus 
tifiable  to  assume  any  equivocal  grounds,  particularly  on  such  a  sub 
ject;  and  1  thought  it  proper-,  therefore,  to  present  a  note  to  the  Se 
cretary  of  State,  asking  the  truth  of  the  case,  and  stating  specifical 
ly  the  principle  to  be  recognized.  No.  1  is  a  copy  of  mine,  and  No. 
2,  of  that  of  the  Director,  written  in  our  language  and  in  his  own 
hand  writing.  I  had  hoped  the  correspondence,  but  the  delays  are 
such  here  in  all  the  public  offices,  that  I  cannot  avail  myself  of  them 
for  this  opportunity;  it  is  not  now,  however,  important,  except  for  the 
greater  satisfaction  of  the  President,  inasmuch,  as  an  order  has 
been  issued  in  conformity  with  his  note,  and  conveyed  to  Sir  Tho 
mas  Hardy,  who  acquiesced  in  its  propriety.  There  have  been  up 
wards  of  a  dozen  English  merchantmen  under  capture,  some  of  which 
have  already  been  condemned. 

"  Nothing  has  reached  us  from  the  army  later  than  the  4th  of  May. 
when  San  Martin  had  resumed  his  former  station  at  Ancon,  with 
in  a  few  leagues  of  the  capital.  It  is  feared  here,  that  the  absence 
of  Lord  Cochraneon  the  expedition  I  have  already  referred  to,  may 
retard  the  views  of  the  General,  if  not  wholly  defeat  the  object  of 
his  approach.  Bolivar  has  sent  a  considerable  force  to  Guayaquil, 
seven  hundred  of  which  have  already  landed  at  the  place,  from 
whence  they  are  to  march  for  the  Congress  of  Quito." 


Mr.  Prevost  to  Mr.  Joaquin  de  Echeveria,  Secretary  of  State  of  the 

Republic  oj  Chili. 

ST.  JAGO  DE  CHILI,  ISthJune,  1821. 

SIR:  I  understand  that  there  is  a  letter  in  town  from  Sir  Thomas 
Hardy,  addressed  to  the  British  merchants  of  this  place,  in  which  it 
is  stated,  that  this  government  considers  the  whole  coast  of  Peru,, 
south  of  the  capital,  as  under  blockade,  although  there  is  no  force 
stationed  before  any  one  port,  except  that  of  Callao.  This  informa 
tion  is  so  much  at  variance  with  the  impressions  I  have  uniformly 
received,  during  my  residence  here,  that  I  must  believe  some  mistake 
has  arisen  either  with  my  informant,  or  with  the  British  admiral. 

Will  you  therefore  allow  me,  Sir.  to  ask  from  you  the  fact  on  this 
subject?  It  is  a  question  of  great  moment;  one  of  peculiar  interest 
in  the  United  States,  since  our  last  contest  with  Great  Britain,  and 
erne  upon  which  1  am  anxious  that  there  should  exist  no  difference  of 


[  90  1  27 

opinion.  The  principle,  upon  whicb  the  right  of  exclusion  from  any 
specific  port  is  founded,  is  the  temporary  sovereignty  acquired  by  the 
presence  of  the  force  of  one  belligerent,  competent,  as  to  the  other,  to 
control  the  mouth  of  such  port,  or  harbor.  Hence,  it  is  obvious,  that, 
to  the  legal  exercise  of  the  rights  growing  out  of  the  blockade,  the 
force  must  be  permanent  in  its  station. 

There  will  offer  a  conveyance  to  the  United  States,  in  a  few  days, 
of  which  I  could  wish  to  avail  myself,  as  well  to  satisfy  the  President 
of  the  strict  adherence  to  principles  maintained  by  his  Excellency  the 
Supreme  Director,  as  to  defeat  the  effect  of  rumors  that  must  have  a 
pernicious  tendency  at  home. 

J.  B.  PREVOST, 

The  Hon,  JOAQUIN  DE  ECIIEVERIA, 

8'ry  of  Mate  of  the  Republic  of  Chili, 


General  O'Higgins  to  Mr.  Prevost. 

June  23,  1821. 

MY  DEAR  SIR:  I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you  for  the  indication 
-which  favors  me  with  your  note  of  this  day.  You  might  be  sure  of 
my  resolution  about  the  necessity  of  an  actual  force  to  be  stationed 
at  the  sight  of  the  ports  that  are  to  constitute  the  blockade.  This 
very  moment  I  am  answering  sir  Thomas  Hardy  about  this  point, 
declaring  that  must  be  considered  as  such  to  the  ports  from  Pisco  to 
Ancon,  and  orders  will  be  despatched  to  the  vice  admiral,  lord  Coch- 
rane,  and  general  San  Martin,  by  the  first  safe  conduct. 

By  next  Tuesday's  post  to  Valparaiso,  will  be  sent  to  you,  by  the 
Minister  of  State,  all  what  has  occurred  about  the  mattery  mean 
while  I  remain  vours  most  sincerely. 

B.  O'HIGGINS. 


Extract  of  a  letter  from  Mr.  Hogan,  commercial  agent  of  the  United 
States  at  Valparaiso,  to  the  Secretary  of  State9  dated  18th  August, 
1821. 

"I  have  now  the  honor  to  inform  you  that,  on  the  13th  instant, 
a  despatch  vessel  arrived  here  from  Callao,  which  place  she  left  on 
the  23d  ult.  with  advices  to  this  government,  of  the  surrender  of  Lima 
to  General  San  Martin,  and  of  the  inhabitants  having  sworn  to  the 
independence  of  the  place.  On  the  12th  July,  the  Spanish  troops 
proceeded  to  the  mountains  with  their  General,  who  first  placed  a 
garrison  of  two  thousand  men  in  Callao,  which  place  had  not  sur 
rendered  when  the  despatch  came  away,  but  could  not  be  expected  to 
hold  out,  as  there  was  not  more  than  a  week's  provision  in  the  for 
tress,  which  was  to  be  attacked  by  land  and  by  sea  from  the  squad 


28  [  90  ] 

ron.  The  sufferings  of  the  people  in  Lima  tor  want  of  bread  -stuffs 
and  other  foot!  had  been  great;  but  there  is  no  public  gazette  issued 
explanatory  of  the  proceedings,  and  that  private  letters  are  short  and 
unsatisfactory,  it  is  impossible  to  say  to  what  extent  they  had  carried 
their  attachment  to  royalty,  or,  rather,  their  opposition  to  being  con 
quered  by  the  forces  of  Chili,  which  they  had  even  treated  -and  con 
sidered  as  an  inferior  people,  not  entitled  to  the  enjoyment  of  equal 
rights  with  themselves.  To  expect  them  to  submit  tamely  to  the  dic 
tation  of  this  slip  of  country  is,  I  believe,  more  than  will  be  realized, 
although  there  can  never  be  any  doubt  of  the  country  of  South  Ame 
rica  facing  the  Pacific  ocean  being  forever  tree  from  the  government 
of  old  Spain. 

"  An  additional  export  duty  of  15  per  cent,  is  laid  by  this  govern 
ment  upon  all  articles  shipped  from  this  port  for  Lima;  many  vessels 
are  in  port  ready  to  depart  as  soon  as  permitted.  The  Constellation 
was  at  Callao,  and  may  (by  report  only)  be  expected  here  soon. 

*'  Mr.  Prevost  is  expected  from  Santiago,  to  embark  by  the  first 
vessel  from  Lima.  I  send  this  letter  in  duplicate  by  two  ships  bound 
this  day  to  London,  in  the  hope  that  either  may  be  put  on  board  of 
some  vessel  bound  to  the  United  States.  I  have  also  written  to  Mr. 
Rush  by  them,  requesting  he  may  communicate  the  information  by 
the  earliest  opportunity. 

"  Soon  after  my  arrival  here  I  wrote  to  Captain  Ridgely,  request 
ing  he  would  use  his  endeavors  to  inform  you,  by  way  of  Panama,  of 
the  fall  of  that  important  section  of  South  America,  which  I  doubt 
not  will  be  the  first  communication  you  will  receive." 


[TRANSLATION.] 

ACT  OF  THE  INDEPENDENCE  OF  PERU. 

IN  THE  ROYAL  CITY  OF  PERU, 

15th  July,  1821. 

The  Senors  who  compose  it  having  yesterday  assembled  in  the  most 
excellent  Senate,  with  the  most  excellent  and  most  illustrious  Senor 
the  Archbishop  of  this  Holy  Metropolitan  Church,  the  prelates  of  the 
religious  convents,  titulars  of  Castile,  and  various  neighbors  of  this 
capital,  for  the  purpose  of  fulfilling  what  had  been  provided  in  the  offi 
cial  letter  of  the  most  excellent  senor  the  general  in  chief  of  the 
liberator  army  of  Peru,  D  Jose  de  San  Martin,  the  contents  of 
which  were  read;  and  persuaded  thereof,  reduced  to  what  per 
sons  of  known  probity,  learning,  and  patriotism,  who  inhabit  this 
capital,  would  express,  if  the  general  opinion  for  independence  had 
been  resolved  on,  which  vote  would  serve  as  a  guide  to  the  said  gene 
ral  for  proceeding  to  take  the  oath:  All  the  sefiors  agreeing  for  them 
selves,  and  satisfied  of  the  opinion  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  capital, 


[  90  ]  29 

said,  that  the  general  will  was  decided  for  the  independence  of  Peru 
of  the  Spanish  dominion,  and  of  any  other  foreign  dominion  whatever, 
and  that  they  would  proceed  to  its  sanction  by  means  of  the  corres 
ponding  oath;  it  was  compared  with  a  certified  copy  of  this  act  to  the 
same  most  excellent  Senor,  and  tiie  Sefiors  signed  it'. 

THE  COUNT  OF  SAN  1SIDRO. 

BARTOLOME,  Archbishop  of  Lima. 

FRANCISCO  DE  ZARA TE. 

SIMON  RAVAGO. 

FRAN  CISCO  XAVIER  DEECHAGNEv 

MANUEL  DE  ARIAS. 

The  Count  DE  LA  VIGA  DEL  REN. 

FR.  GEROMMO  CAVERO. 

JOSE  IGNACLO  PALACIOS. 

ANTONIO  PADILLA,  Syndic,  Proc.  gen. 


Mr.  Brent9  Charge  des  Affaires  of  the  United  States  at  Madrid,  to  the 
Secretary  of  State. 

M  AD  RID  ,  1  Oth  July,  1821, 

SIR:  The  late  session  of  the  Cortes  had  far  advanced  when  most  of 
the  Deputies  from  Mexico  arrived.  They  had  been  detained  two  months 
at  Vera  Cruz  by  the  commander  of  the  frigate  Pronta,  and  were  at 
last  obliged  to  make  the  best  of  their  way  to  Spain  in  foreign  vessels, 
running  every  risk,  and  incurring  great  expense.  They  had  not 
been  long  in  Madrid  when  they  began  to  press  their  claims,  and  on 
the  3d  of  May,  count  Tore-no,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  mem 
bers  of  the  Cortes  of  Old  Spain,  a  friend,  as  is  supposed,  to  their 
cause,  made  a  motion  in  the  Cortes,  that  a  special  committee  be  ap 
pointed,  composed  of  deputies  of  Ultramar  and  Kurope,  to  consider 
of,  and  propose,  conjointly  with  the  Executive,  such  measures  as 
they  should  deem  most  proper  "  to  terminate  the  dissentions  prevail 
ing  in  the  various  parts  of  America.''  This  motion  was  agreed  to, 
and  the  committee  appointed. 

While  this  committee  were  engaged  in  their  important  duties,  the 
news  was  received,  about  the  beginning  of  June,  of  the  insurrection 
of  Iturbide,  and  the  form  of  government  proposed  by  him  to  be  adopt 
ed,  copy  of  which  I  transmit,  (marked  A,)  and,  in  consequence  of 
a  resolution  offered  by  an  American  deputy,  the  ministers  appeared, 
on  the  4th  June,  before  the  Cortes  to  give  an  account  of  the  occur 
rences  that  had  taken  place  in  New  Spain.  The  American  deputies 
availed  themselves  of  this  occasion  to  shew  to  the  Cortes,  and  Execu 
tive,  the  impracticability  of  the  provinces  of  America  being  governed 
as  those  of  the  Peninsula,  according  to  the  provisions  of  the  constitu 
tion,  on  account  of  their  great  distance  Iron*  the  Metropolis;  proved 
the  necessity  of  adopting  prompt  and  eiiicacious  measures,  and  press- 


30  [  90  ] 

cd  the  government  and  committee  to  come  to  an  early  decision;  They 
then  moved  that  the  government  should  he  requested  to  direct,  with 
out  delay,  the  Vice  Roy  of  Mexico  to  inform  Iturhide  that  the  Cortes 
were  occupied  in  projecting  a  plan  of  government  for  America,  and 
propose  a  suspension  of  hostilities  until  the  resolution  should  he  final 
ly  made  by  the  Cortes  and  Executive.  It  was  stated  that,  should 
this  step  he  taken,  they  were  perfectly  convinced  that  Iturbide,  and 
those  under  his  standard,  would  suspend  hostilities  the  moment  they 
knew  that  the  deputies  of  New  Spain  had  arrived  at  the  capital  m 
time  to  he  ahle  to  make  the  "  just  reclamations  of  those  Spaniards." 
This  was  not  agreed  to.  A  resolution  was  then  offered  and  adopted, 
Directing' that  the  minister  of  Ultramar,  "in  consideration  of  the 
state  of  New  Spain,  should  propose  the  measures  he  might  think  pro 
per,  whilst  the  Cortes  were  occupied  in  taking  radical  ones  for  its 
complete  pacification." 

The  committee  labored  with  great  assiduity,  and  had  various  con 
ferences  with  the  ministers,  who,  at  first,  coincided  in  the  opinions 
advanced,  and  in  the  arrangement  proposed  by  it  to  be  adopted  in 
regard  to  Spanish  America,  and  which  would  have  been  satisfactory 
to  the  American  deputies.  When,  however,  it  wa's  laid  before  the 
king,  he  was  strenuously  opposed  to  it,  on  the  ground,  as  lie  inform 
ed  them,  that  the  arrangement  contemplated  would  be  a  violation  of 
the  constitution;  that  the  public  opinion  was  not  prepared  for  it;  that 
it  was  against  the  interest,  both  of  the  Peninsula  and  America;  and 
finally,  he  spoke  of  the  .opposition  that  might  be  made  to  it  by  foreign 
powers,  since  they  had  not  been  consulted.  In  consequence  of  this, 
the  accord  between  the  ministers  and  committee  ceased;  and,  as  ac 
cording  to  the  resolutions  of  count  Toreno,  which  gave  rise  to  the 
appointment  of  the  committee,  it  being  unauthorized  without  the  con 
currence  of  the  Executive  to  offer  any  plan,  none  was  proposed  to 
the  Cortes.  The  committee  made  their  report  to  the  Cortes  on  the 
24th  June,  (copy  marked  B.)  and  state  that  the  government, not  be 
lieving  that  the  moment  had  arrived  of  convenience  and  necessity 
for  the.  adoption  of  certain  measures,  they  can  do  nothing  more  than 
excite  the  zeal  of  the  ministers,  to  the  end  that  the  wished-for  moment 
may  be  accelerated,  and  recommend  that  the  Executive  should  be 
pressed  "  to  present  to  their  deliberations,  with  the  greatest  despatch, 
the  fundamental  measures  they  may  think  proper,  as  well  for  the  just 
and  complete  pacification  of  the  revolted  provinces  of  America,  as  to 
secure  to  all  of  them  the  enjoyment  of  a  firm  and  solid  happiness." 

The  disappointment  aiid  vexation  of  the  American  deputies  at  this 
result,  was  proportionate  to  the  flattering  hopes  that  had  been  excited 
by  the  unanimity  of  sentiment  that  prevailed  at  the  first  conferences 
of  the  ministers  and  committee.  They  then  determined  to  present, 
themselves,  a  plan  to  the  Cortes,  having  the  object  in  view,  and  the 
propositions  (copy  marked  B)  were  made  on  the  25th  June;  which, 
in  substance,  are  the  same  as  those  that  had  at  first  met  the  approba 
tion  of  the  ministers. 


[  90  ]  31 

These  propositions  are,  that  there  shall  he  three  divisions  made  of 
America.  In  each  a  cortes,  having  the  powers  delegated  by  the 
constitution  to  the  general  cortes,  with  the  exception  of  the  2d,  3d,4th 
5th  and  6th  powers;  that  part  of  the  seventh  relative  to  the  sanction  of 
treaties,  and  the  second  part  of  the  27th  power.  In  each  division,  a 
delegate  appointed  by  the  king,  from  among  the  persons  most  distin 
guished  for  their  high  qualifications,  not  excluding  members  of  the 
royal  family,  removeable  at  his  will,  who  shall  exercise,  in  the  name 
ef  the  king,  the  executive  power,  to  be  inviolable with  respect  to  the 
American  cories,  and  only  responsible  to  the  king  and  general  cortes. 
In  each  four  ministers:  of  the  interior,  of  finance,  of  grace  and  jus 
tice,  and  of  war  and  marine.  In  each  a  supreme  tribunal  of  justice, 
and  a  council  of  state.  The  commerce  between  the  peninsula  and 
America,  to  be  considered  as  from  one  province  to  another.  And  the 
inhabitants  of  the  latter  to  have  equal  eligibility  with  those  of  the 
former  to  all  public  employments. 

New  Spain  binds  herself  to  pay  200  millions  of  reals  in  six  years, 
and  contribute  annually  40  millions  of  reals  to  the  support  of  the 
navy.  The  other  parts  of  America  to  contribute  in  the  manner  that 
shall  be  subsequently  arranged.  New  Spain  will  also  pay  all  the 
debt  contracted  within  its  territory,  and  all  public  property  to  be 
long  to  it,  On  the  sitting  of  the  25th  June,  two  of  the  deputies  of 
fered  an  amendment  to  the  5th  article,  having  for  object  to  prevent 
the  appointment  of  delegates  being  conferred  on  any  of  the  royal  fa 
mily. 

These  propositions  were  preceded  by  an  expose  read  in  the  cortes, 
a  copy  of  which  I  transmit  herewith.  In  it  they  state  that  "they  de 
sire  the  constitution  which  ought  to  make  them  happy*  hut  which, 
in  the  actual  state  of  things,  they  consider  to  be  a  beautiful  theory, 
that  can  only  be  reduced  to  practice  in  the  peninsula  The  Ameri 
cans  are  freemen,  are  Spaniards — have  the  same  rights  as  the  penin 
sulars.  They  are  acquainted  with,  and  have  sufficient  virtue  to  sup 
port  them." 

The  measures  recommended  by  the  committee  to  request  the  go 
vernment  to  present  a  plan  at  an  early  period  has  been  acted  upon, 
as  you  will  perceive  by  the  king's  speech,  in  which  he  says  that  his 
government,  "urged  by  the  cortes  to  propose  the  measures  they  may 
think  proper  for  their  welfare,  on  a  consideration  of  the  state  of  those 
countries,  will  do  so  immediately,  and  with  all  possible  generosity." 
These  will,  without  doubt,  be  proposed  on  the  meeting  of  the  cortes 
extraordinary,  which  the  speech  of  the  president  of  the  cortes  to  the 
king  will  have  shewn  you  is  to  take  place.  It  is  supposed  that  its 
convocation  will  not  be  delayed  longer  than  the  first  of  October,  if 
so  long. 

You  will  perceive  that  the  deputies  do  not  demand  an  acknow 
ledgment  of  independence,  and  pretend  not  even  to  aspire  to  it;  and 
they  have  declared  in  the  cortes,  on  the  4th  June,  that  if  the  revolu 
tionists  desire  independence,  it  is  because  means  have  not  been  de- 


32  [  90  ] 

vised  that  should  make  the  welfare  of  those  provinces  compatible 
with  their  union  with  the  peninsula. 

The  commissioners  of  Bolivar,  who  are  still  here,  on  the  contrary, 
insist  u]H>n  the  acknowledgment  of  their  independence  as  the  hasis  of 
any  arrangement  with  Spain.  Nothing  has  been  concluded  between 
them  and  this  government,  and  all  negotiation  is  suspended. 

It  is  diiiicuit  to  conjecture  what  will  he  the  determination  of  the 
cortes  and  the  executive  on  this  great  and  interesting  question,  when 
A\e  consider  on  the  one  hand  that  they  cannot  be  wholly  blind  to  the 
just  claims,  the  strength,  and  resources  of  America — and  view,  on  the 
other,  the  prejudices  and  iliiherality  that  still  exist  in  a  high  de 
gree  in  the  executive,  and  a  great  portion  of  the  member's  of  the 
cortes,  and  the  observation  in  the  king's  speech,  "that  the  Spaniards 
of  both  hemispheres  ought  to  be  persuaded  there  is  nothing  he  desires 
so  much  as  their  felicity,  -founded  in  the  integrity  of  the  monarchy, 
and  in  the  observance  of  the  constitution." 

As  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  -form  an  opinion,  it  is,  that  the  fo 
reign  powers  during  the  agitation  of  the  American  question,  have 
endeavoured  to  pi-event  any  arrangement  between  the  parties. 

On  the  9th  instant  1  received  a  note  from  Mr.  Ilavcnga,  one  of  the 
commissioners  of  Bolivar,  requesting  an  interview  with  me,  (copy 
marked  D)  to  which  3  immediately  replied,  (cony  marked  E,)  stating 
that  L  would  receive  him  that  very  evening. 

In  this  interview  he  spoke  of  his  mission  to  Spain;  he  said,  that 
when  he  left  Colombia,  he  had  no  idea  of  meeting  with  the  least  ob 
stacle;  he  had  calculated  to  a  certainty  that  his  object  would  imme 
diately  be  accomplished.  He  spoke  of  the  ignorance  of  this  country 
of  the  real  state  of  Spanish  America — of  their  illiberality  and  their 
prejudices  with  warmth,  and  particularly  so  of  the  expression  of  the 
king,  in  his  speech  respecting  Spanish  America.  He  calculated,  he 
said,  upon  the  friendship  of  the  United  States,  to  promote  the  inde 
pendence  of  the  Republic  of  Colombia;  he  had  a  full  conviction  that 
he  roii Id  rely  upon  it,  Mr.  Monroe,  when  Secretary  of  State,  had 
informed  him  that  all  the  ministers  of. the  United  States  in  Europe, 
had  instructions  to  advance  the  acknowledgment  of  their  indepen 
dence  by  foreign  powers, 

1  sympathized  with  him  in  the  unpleasant  situation  in  which  he 
was  placed,  and  feared  that  the  sentiment  in  Spain  was  not  as  favor 
able  as  could  be  desired.  He  was  perfectly  justified,  1  said,  in  -'e- 
lying  upon  the  good  dispositions  of  the  United  States.  It  was  their 
interest  and  their  sincere  wish,  that  the  acknowledgment  of  the  in 
dependence  of  Spanish  America  should  he  accelerated.  The  United 
States  had  not  only  been  imu-e  forward  than  any  other  power,  in  pub 
lishing  to  the  world  their  \\lshcs  with  respect  to  her,  but  had  accompa 
nied  them  with  actions,  which  certainly  afforded  the  best  proof  of  their 
sincerity,  and  among  them  I, adverted  to  the  iuosnagr  of  thePresident  to 
the  Congress  of  the  United  Stfit<js,  at  liie  c«ifinnviicerneut  of  its  last 
session  in  which,  alluding  to  the  proposed' n<  •»  between  the  late 

colonies  and  Spain,  the  basis  of  which,  if  entered  upon, would  be  the  ac- 


[  90  ]  33 

knowlcdgment  of  their  independence;  he  says,  "  to  promote  that 
result  by  friendly  counsels,  including  Spain  herself,  has  been  the  uni 
form  policy  of  the  government  of  the  United  States." 

The  friendship  of  the  United  States,  he  said,  was  very  grateful  to 
the  Republic  of  Colombia,  and  he  hoped  and  expected,  that,  at  the 
commencement  of  the  next  meeting  of  Congress,  the  acknowledg 
ment  of  its  independence  would  be  decided  upon;  the  moment  had  ar 
rived  when  all  the  powers  of  the  world  would  see  the  propriety  of  it. 
He  calculated  that  the  United  States  would  be  the  first  to  take  this 
step;  hoped  to  see  a  confederacy  of  Republics  throughout  North  arid 
South  America,  united  by  the  strongest  ties  of  friendship  and  inter 
est;  and  he  trusted  that  I  would  use  my  exertions  to  promote  the  ob 
ject  he  so  much  desired. 

I  heartily  concurred  with  him  in  the  hope,  that  all  governments  would 
resolve  to  adopt  a  measure  so  conformable  to  justice,  joined  with  him 
in  the  agreeable  anticipations  of  the  progress  of  free  principles  of  go 
vernment,  of  theintimat^nion  arid  brilliant  prospects  of  the  states  of 
our  newr  world.  1  presumed,  I  said,  it  was  not  necessary  to  bring  to 
his  mind,  the  high  interest  felt  by  the  United  States  in  their  welfare — 
an  interest  in  which  1  deeply  participated,  and  desired,  as  much  as  h« 
possibly  could,  the  happiness  of  our  Spanish  American  brethren. 
What  would  be  the  determination  of  the  United  States,  at  the  period 
of  the  commencement  of  Congress,  it  was  impossible  for  nae  to  foresee; 
whether  they  would  consider  it  a  seasonable  moment  for  doing  that 
which  was  so  much  desired,  was  a  point  I  could  not  resolve. 

In  this  interview,  Mr.  Ravenga  confirmed  to  me  what  I  had  pre 
viously  learned,  that  his  instructions  do  not  authorize  any  terms 
short  of  the  acknowledgment  of  independence.  I  observed  to  him 
that  1  presumed  no  arrangement  would  be  made  under  them  that 
might  have  an  injurious  bearing  on  the  commercial  interests  ot  the 
United  States.  To  this  his  reply  was,  that  none  would  be  entered 
into  by  the  Republic  of  Colombia,  with  Spain,  that  would  not  be  per 
fectly  reciprocal. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c.  &c. 

THOMAS  L.  L.  BRENT. 


A. 

ARTICLE  1.  The  religion  of  New  Spain  is,  and  shall  be,  the  Ro 
man  Catholic  Apostolical,  without  tolerating  any  other. 

2.  New  Spain  is  independent  of  Old  Spain,  and  of  every  other 
power,  even  on  our  continent. 

3d.  Its  government  shall  be  a  moderate  monarchy,  according  to  a 
Constitution  peculiarly  adapted  for  the  empire. 

4.  Ferdinand  the  VII.  shall  be  emperor;  and  if  he  do  not  come  in 
person  to  Mexico  to  make  oath  before  the  Cortes,  within  tho  time  pre 
scribed  by  them,  the  most  serene  infants  Don  Carlos,  Don  Francisco 
S 


34  I  90  ] 

de  Paula,  the  aroh-dukc  Charles,  or  some  other  branch  of  the  reigning 
family,  shall  be  appointed  in  his  place  by  the  Congress. 

5.  Until  the  meeting  of  the  Cortes,  there  shall  be  a  junta  which 
shall  have  their  union  for  its  object,   and  the  compliance  with  this 
plan  in  its  whole  extent. 

6.  Said  junta,  which  shall  be  styled  governmental,  must  be  compos 
ed  of  the  deputies  mentioned  in  the  official  letter  of  the  vice-roy. 

7.  Until  Ferdinand  VIFs  arrival  in  Mexico,  and  his  taking  the 
oath,  the  junta  will  govern  in  the  name  of  his  majesty,  in  virtue  of 
the  oath  of  fidelity  taken  by  the  nation;  but  until  his  majesty  hath 
sworn,  any  orders  lie  may  give  shall  be  suspended. 

8.  If  Ferdinand   VII.  should  not  deign  to  come  to   Mexico,  the 
junta  or  regency  shall  govern  in  the  name  of  the  nation,  until  it  be 
resolved  who  shall  be  crowned  emperor. 

9.  This  government  shall  be  sustained  by  the  army  of  the  three 
guarantees,  of  which  mention  shall  be  made  hereafter. 

10.  The  Cortes  shall  resolve  whether  jjjte  junta  shall  continue, 
or  a  regency  substituted  in  its  place,  until  the  arrival  of  the  person 
who  is  to  be  crowned. 

11.  The  Cortes  shall  immediately  establish  the  constitution  of  the 
Mexican  empire. 

12.  All  the  inhabitants  of  New  Spain,  without  distinction  of  Afri 
cans,  Europeans,  or  Indians,  are  citizens  of  this  monarchy,   with 
eligibility  to  all  employments,  according  to  their  virtues  or  merits. 

13.  The  person  of  every  citizen  and  his  property  shall  be  respected 
and  protected  by  the  government. 

14.  The  clergy,  secular,  and  regular,  shall  preserve  all  its  privi 
leges  and  pre-eminences. 

15.  The  junta  shall  take  care  that  every  branch  of  the  state  remain 
without  any  alteration,  and  all  the  officers,  political,  ecclesiastical, 
civil,  and  military,  on  the  same  footing  as  at  present.     They  alone 
shall  be  removed  who  decline  entering  into  this  plan,  substituting 
in  their  place  those  persons  who  are  most  distinguished  for  their  vir 
tue  and  merit. 

16.  A  protecting  army  shall  be  formed,  under  the  title  of  the  three 
guarantees,because  it  takes  under  its  protection:  1st.  The  preservation 
of  the  Catholic  religion,  co-operating,  with  all  its  efforts,  that  there 
may  not  be  a  mixture  of  any  other  sect,  and  attacking  all  the  enemies 
who  may  injure  it.  2d.  The  independence  under  the  system  already  ma 
nifested.  Sd.The  intimate  union  of  Americans  and  Europeans,guaran- 
tying  such  fundamental  bases  of  the  felicity  of  New  Spain,  each  indi 
vidual,  from  first  to  last,  will  prefer  sacrificing  his  life  than  permit 
the  infraction  of  any  of  them. 

17.  The  troops  of  the  army  shall  observe  the  most  strict  discipline, 
according  to  their  regulations,  and  the  chiefs  and  officers  shall  re 
main  on  the  same  standing  as  at  present,  that  is,  in  their  respective 
classes,  with  eligibility  to  such  public  employments  as  are  vacant,  or 

vacate  in  consequence  of  those  who  may  not  wish  to  follow  their 


[  90  ]  S5 

career,  or  any  other  cause,  and  those  which  may  be  considered  as  ne 
cessary  or  convenient. 

18.  The  troops  of  said  army  shall  be  considered  as  of  the  line. 

19.  In  the  same  light  shall  be  considered  those  who  may   after 
wards  adopt  this  plan.     Those  who  do  not  defer  it,  those  of  the  for 
mer  system  of  independence,  who  shall  immediately  join  said  army, 
and  the  countrymen  who  may  desire  t&  enlist,  elial!  be  considered  as 
troops  of  national  militia,  and  the  form  of  each,  for  the  interior  and 
exterior  security  of  the  empire,  shall  be  dictated  by  the  cortes. 

20.  The  employments  shall  be  conceded  to  true  merit,  in  virtue  of 
references  to  the  chiefs,  and  in  the  name  of  the  nation. 

21.  While  the  cortes  are  assembling,  the  proceedings  against  crimi 
nals  shall  be  according  to  the  Spanish  constitution. 

22.  For  conspiring  against  the  independence  criminals  shall  be 
imprisoned  until  the  cortes  decide  the  greatest  punishment,  next  to 
'*  lesa  Majestad  Divina." 

23.  A  strict  watch  shall  be  kept  over  those  who  may  attempt  to 
create  disunion,  and  they  shall  be  reputed  conspirators  against  the 
independence. 

24.  As  the  cortes  which  are  about  to  be  installed  are  to  be  constitu 
ent,  it  is  necessary  that  the  deputies  should  receive  sufficient  powers  to 
that  effect,  and  consequently  the  electors  ought  to  be  informed  that 
their  representatives  are  to  be  for  the  congress  of  Mexico,  and  not 
of  Madrid.     The  junta  will  prescribe  just  rules  for  the  elections,  and 
will  fix  the  necessary  time  for  them  and  the  opening  of  the  congress. 

Since  the  elections  cannot  take  place  in  March,  the  term  shall  be 
shortened  as  much  as  possible. 

ITURB1DE. 
IGUALA,  24  th  February. 


B. 

The  special  committee,  appointed  to  propose  to  the  Cortes  what  it 
judges  most  conducive  to  put  a  stop  in  the  most  effectual  manner  to  the 
disputes  and  dissensions  which  unfortunately  prevail  in  the  provinces 
of  America,  is  duly  penetrated  with  the  importance  of  the  charge, 
and  desirous  of  corresponding  to  the  confidence  with  which  the  Cortes 
has  honored  it.  Few  questions  of  such  magnitude  can  be  present 
ed  to  the  deliberations  of  a  legislative  assembly  and  to  the  resolves 
of  a  government,  as  that  which,  at  present,  occupies  the  attention 
of  the  Spanish  Cortes.  On  their  resolution,  and  the  wisdom  of  their 
measures,  depend  the  greatest  events;  perhaps  the  tranquillity  of 
America,  and  the  rapid  civilization  of  the  whole  world.  Spain  seems 
destined  to  give  the  world,  from  time  to  time,  striking  examples  of 
grandeur,  by  turns  heroical,  or  singularly  foriginal  The  remote 
seas  and  regions  discovered  by  her  sons  since  the  time  of  Columbus 
in  the  15th  and  16th  centuries;  the  renowned  valour  and  martial 
deeds,  which  border  on  the  fabulous,  of  Cortes,  Balboa,  and  Pizarrro 


86  [  90  ] 

did  uot  suffice  to  their  glory;  nor  that  Sebastian  del  Cano,  in  his  ship 
Victory,  styled  the  competitor  of  the  sun,  should  he  the  first  to  sail 
round  the  globe;  to  complete  its  measure,  they  added  the  arts,  civil 
ization,  and  the  religion  of  their  fathers;  those  vast  regions  partici 
pated  of  the  benefits  enjoyed  in  Europe,  and  the  discoverers  did  not 
delay  in  making  extensive  to  them  the  advantages  derived  from  their 
own  country.  With  what  enthusiasm  arid  pleasure  (as  we  are  assu 
red  by  Iiica  Gacilaso)  they  assembled  to  enjoy  in  reciprocal  union, 
and  to  spread,  by  their  care  and  attention,  over  the  whole  country, 
the  first  productions  of  Europe,  The  laws  relative  to  India  are  an 
eternal  monument  of  the  desire  which  always  animated  the  Spanish 
government  that  America  should  be  treated  with  the  same  care  and 
equality  as  the  other  provinces  of  Europe;  they  state  that  its  natives 
shall  be  treated,  favored,  and  defended,  as  the  other  subjects  of  the 
peninsula.  From  such  just  and  prudent  policy  resulted  the  advanta 
ges  which  afterwards  were  derived.  Cities  were  erected  which,  for 
their  population,  beauty,  and  extension,  rivalled  the  principal  in  Eu 
rope;  their  products  served  to  augment  the  traffic  and  commerce  of  the 
whole  world.  The  sons  of  America,  with  their  talents  and  wisdom, 
enlightened  the  country  of  Manco  Capac,  and  Montezuma,  and,  not 
satisfied  with  spreading  their  knowledge  over  their  native  land,  they 
have  come  to  Europe  to  co-operate  in  the  amelioration  and  prosper 
ity  of  the  Spains,  it  being  conspicuous  that  many  estimable  deputies 
from  thence,  in  the  anterior  and  present  Cortes,  have  taken  an  active 
and  very  principal  part  in  the  most  important  decisions.  Such  are 
the  fruits  which  have  been  collected  from  the  civilization  and  culture 
which  Spain  has  succeeded  in  diffusing  beyond  the  Atlantic,  and 
from  them  is  most  evident  the  injustice  and  levity  with  which  foreign 
writers  have  spoken  of  Spanish  domineering  in  those  regions.  The 
disorders  and  injustice  that  there  has  been  there  have  not  arisen  from 
the  laws,  nor  from  the  interests,  nor  from  the  ambition,  of  the  metro 
polis,  but  from  the  men,  the  prejudices  of  the  age,  from  the  evils  un 
der  which  Spain  herself  groaned,  and  from  the  distance  which  al 
ways  rendered  null  the  responsibility  of  the  governors.  But,  in 
spite  of  this,  America  continued  faithful,  and  closely  united  with  the 
mother  country.  The  dissensions  in  Europe,  the  war  of  the  succes 
sion,  produced  no  desire  to  disturb  interior  tranquillity,  or  to  effect  a 
separation,  neither  was  the  glorious  war  for  independence  a  sufficient 
motive;.-they  succored  us  with  their  treasures,  and  it  has  been  said,  in 
honor  and  to  the  glory  of  America,  that  the  principle  of  her  revolt 
had  a  noble  origin,  similar  to  what  impelled  Spain  to  defend  herself 
against  a  hostile  irruption.  When  Andalusia  was  invaded  in  1810, 
the  greater  part  of  our  provinces  was  occupied  by  the  enemy;  our 
government  dispersed,  and  our  armies  nearly  annihilated;  the  destiny 
of  Spain  was  considered  as  decided,  and  her  ruin  inevitable.  It 
would,  indeed,  have  been  difficult  to  imagine  that,  from  an  insulated 
extremity  of  the  peninsula,  the  nation  would  rise  again,  not  only  in 
dependent,  but  regenerated  and  free.  The  Americans,  mistrustful 
of  their  chiefs,  feared,  that,  being  Europeans,  they  would  desire  to 


[  90  ]  37 

follow  the  destiny  of  Spain  whatever  it  might  be;  they,  therefore, 
resolved  not  to  submit  to  a  foreign  yoke,  and  preferred  separat 
ing  from  the  peninsula  to  the  indignity  of  obeying  an  unjust  inva 
der.  This  was  the  noble  principle  of  the  commotions  in  America, 
and  if  any  of  her  chiefs  had  motives  less  pure,  he  was  obliged  to 
dissemble,  and  cover  them  with  the  pretext  of  so  just  a  cause. 

The  Spanish  arms,  in  conjunction  with  their  allies,  having  beat 
and  harassed  the  enemy  in  every  direction,  obliged  him  to  evacuate 
the  Peninsula.  Such  a  happy  state  of  affairs  announced  a  speedy 
reconciliation  with  the  revolted  provinces  of  America;  but  all  the 
hopes  of  those  who  loved  their  country  were  dispelled  by  the  fatal 
decree  of  the  4th  of  May,  and  the  execrable  system  which  followed. 
The  war  continued  to  rage  in  many  parts,  and  the  passions,  irritated  to 
the  highest  degree,  left  hut  little  prospect  of  a  conclusion  to  such  a  de 
structive  quarrel.  Nevertheless,  New  Spain,  or,  more  correctly,  all 
Spanish  North  America,  almost  entiVely  quelled  at  that  epoch,  put  a 
stop  to  this  devastating  warfare.  A  great  part  of  Peru  had  constantly 
remained  united  to  Spain;  as  also,  Cuba  and  the  other  islands  Thus, 
while  Terra  Firma,  Buenos  Ayrcs,  and  Chili,  presented  the  spectacle 
of  Spanish  and  American  blood  spilled  by  the  same  hands  whose  inter 
est  it  was  to  preserve  it,  the  most  important  part  of  Spanish  America 
was  free  from  so  much  desolation.  But  this  tranquillity  does  not  suf 
fice;  though  it  should  extend  all  over  America,  and  he  more  durable,  it 
is  not  sufficient  to  satisfy  the  lovers  of  humanity.  America  must  fix  her 
happiness  on  a  more  stable  basis,  which,  instead  of  prejudicing,  may 
add,  to  that  of  Europe.  The  Cortes,  soaring  above  the  prejudices  of 
some,  and  the  passions  of  others,  must  take  such  wise  measures  as  shall 
entitle  them  to  be  considered  worthy  rivals  of  those  Cortes  who,  upon 
a  rock,  and  under  the  enemy's  cannon,  dictated  laws  at  this  day  re 
spected  and  obeyed  by  so  many  and  such  distant  provinces.  The  com 
mittee,  fully  persuaded  of  this,  discussed,  in  various  conferences,  the 
questions  which  appeared  to  it  most  proper  to  produce  the  great  end 
to  which  we  all  aspire;  it  examined  them  conjointly  with  his  Majes 
ty's  ministers,  who  at  first  entirely  concurred  with  the  opinions  that 
were  generally  adopted.  Peculiar  circumstances  have  since  obliged 
them,  in  some  measure,  to  suspend  their  judgment,  under  the  impres 
sion  that  the  public  opinion  is  not  yet  prepared  for  a  definitive  reso 
lution.  In  this  dilemma,  the  committee  can  propose  nothing  to  the 
Cortes;  because,  as  it  appertains  to  the  government  to  decide  the 
question  of  fact,  that  is,  the  convenience  and  necessity  of  adopting 
certain  measures,  and  government  not  thinking  the  moment  has  yet 
arrived,  the  committee  must  confine  itself  to  excite  the  zeal  of  the 
ministers,  that  they  may  accelerate  the  wished-for  moment.  Justice 
calls  aloud  for  this;  the  precarious  and  uncertain  destiny  of  so  many 
Europeans,  Spaniards  established  in  those  regions,  the  Americans 
likewise,  the  different  tribes  who  have  sustained,  by  force  of  arms,  the 
cause  of  the  metropolis;  in  fine,  the  true  felicity  of  America  and  the 
peninsula,  call  aloud  for  it.  The  happiness  of  America  consists  in  a 
solid  peace,  .guarantee  of  its  future  prosperity;  that  of  Spain,  in 
not  meeting  impediments  at  every  moment,  and  not  having  its  atten- 


38  [  90  ] 

tion  drawn  off  from  its  deliberations  to  make  the  provisions  which 
such  distant  provinces  require.  The  knowledge  of  the  century,  and 
an  enlightened  policy,  must  guide  the  government  in  so  new  and  glo 
rious  a  resolution.  The  committee,  possessed  with  the  grandeur  of 
the  subject,  and  convinced  that  its  decision  may  have  some  influence 
in  the  destiny  of  the  universe,  is  desirous  of  communicating  to  all 
Spaniards  its  intimate  conviction,  that  they,  on  their  part,  may  con 
tribute  to  the  happy  termination  of  such  an  undertaking.  Spain 
would  derive  advantages  that,  otherwise,  she  will  not  realise;  and 
the  ties  of  relationship  and  religion,  united  to  commercial  relations, 
and  those  which  are 'derived  from  free  institutions,  would  be  the 
most  certain  pledge  of  our  harmony  and  close  union.  The  commit 
tee,  therefore,  notable  of  itself  to  determine  on  any  thing,  must  con 
fine  itself  to  proposing  that  the  zeal§f  the  government  be  excited,  so 
that  it  may  present  to  the  deliberations  of  the  Cortes,  without  delay, 
the  fundamental  measures  it  may  think  proper*  as  well  for  the  speedy 
and  complete  pacification  of  the  revolted  provinces  of  America,  as  to 
secure  to  them  the  fruition  of  a  firm  and  solid  felicity. 


C. 

ARTICLE  1.  There  shall  be  three  sections  of  Cortes  in  America; 
one  in  the  north  and  two  in  the  south.  The  first  shall  be  composed 
of  the  deputies  of  all  New  Spain,  including  the  internal  provinces 
of  Guatemela:  the  two  other  sections  shall  comprehend — the  one, 
New  Grenada  and  the  provinces  of  Terra  Firm  a;  the  other — Peru, 
Buenos  Ay  res,  and  Chili. 

2.  These  sections  sjiall  unite  at  the  time  appointed  by  the  constitu 
tion  for  the  ordinary  Cortes,  governing  themselves,  in  every  respect, 
according  to  the  rules  prescribed  for  these;  and  they  shall  have  in 
their  territory  the  same  legal  representation  and  powers,  excepting 
the  second,  third,  fourth,  fifth,  and  sixth,  which  are  reserved  for  the 
general  Cortes;  the  part  of  the  7th,  relative  to  approving  offensive 
an'J  defensive  treaties;  and  the  second  part  of  the  2Sd. 

S.  The  capitals  where  these  sections  shall,  for  the  present,  unite, 
are  the  following:  The  section  of  New  Spain  in  Mexico;  that  of 
New  Grenada  and  Terra  Firma  in  Santa  Fe;  and  that  of  Peru,  Bue 
nos  Ayres,  and  Chili,  in  Lima.  If  the  sections,  with  the  consent 
of  the  Executive  power  of  those  countries,  should  think  proper  to 
change  the  seat  of  government,  they  may  select  whatever  place  may 
appear  best  suited  to  their  purpose. 

4.  There  shall  be  in  each  of  these  divisions  a  delegation,  to  exer 
cise,  in  the  name  of  the  King,  the  Executive  authority. 

5.  These  delegations  shall  each  be  composed  of  one  person,  named 
by  the  will  of  his  Majesty,  selected  from  amongst  men  of  the  most 
transcendant  talents,  without  excluding  the  members  of  the  Royal 
Family.    This  delegate  shall  be  removable  at  the  pleasure  of  -Jjjs 


[  90  ]  39 

Majesty:  he  shall  be  inviolable  in  regard  to  the  sections  of  Cortes  of 
those  countries,  and  shall  only  be  responsible  for  his  conduct  to  his 
Majesty  and  the  general  Cortes.  The  ministers  of  this  deS^a- 
tiou  shall  be  responsible  to  the  respective  sections  of  the  Cortes  ac 
cording  to  the  constitution. 

6.  There  shall  be  four  departments:  of  the  interior,  of  finance,  of 
justice,  of  war  and  marine;  some  of  which  may  be  united,  according 
as  it  may  be  judged  convenient,  in  virtue  of  a  law. 

7.  There  shall  be  three  sections  of  the  supreme  tribunals  of  jus 
tice,  composed  of  a  President,  eight  Ministers,  and  an  Attorney  Ge 
neral. 

8.  There  shall  be  tliree  sections  of  the  Council  of  State,  each  com 
posed  of  seven  individuals,  but  the  legislative  sections  may  at  plea 
sure  reduce  their  number  to  five. 

9.  The  commerce  between  the  Peninsula  and  America  shall  be 
considered  as  interior  from  one  province  of  the  monarchy  to  another; 
and  consequently,  the  Spaniards  of  both  hemispheres  shall  enjoy  in 
them  the  same  advantages  as  their  respective  natives. 

10.  They  shall  likewise  reciprocally  enjoy  the  same  civil   rights 
I  and  equal  eligibility  to  employments  and  public  offices  as  their  re 
spective  natives. 

11.  New  Spain  and  the  other  countries,  comprehended  in  the  ter 
ritory  of  their  legislative  section,  oblige  themselves  to  deliver  to  the 
peninsula,  the  sum  of  two  hundred  millions  of  reals,  in  the  space  of 
#ix  years,  which  shall  commence  on  the  1st  of  January,  1823,  in  or 
der  to  contribute  to  the  payment  of  the  foreign  debt,  hypothecating 
the  revenue  of  the  state,  and  the  lands  that  appertain,  or  may  here 
after  appertain  to  it,  in  the  above  mentioned  New  Spain  and   indi 
cated  territory. 

The  said  two  hundred  million  of  reals  shall  be  paid  by  instalments. 
The  first  at  the  commencement  of  January,  1823,  and  thus,  succes 
sively,  in  six  posterior  years,  until  its  final  liquidation,  which  will 
take  place  on  the  1st  January,  1828,  so  that  thirty  millions  may  be 
paid  during  each  of  the  first  four  years,  and  forty  during  the  two  last* 
The  term  of  these  instalments  may  be  curtailed,  with  the  approba-" 
fcion  of  the  legislative  section  that  shall  be  established  in  New  Spain. 

12.  New  Spain  and  the  other  territories  comprehended  in  her  le 
gislative  section,  likewise  bind  themselves  to  contribute  to  the  navy 
expenses  of  the  peninsula,  with  forty  millions  of  reals  annually.  The 
payment  of  this  sum  shall  commence  from  the  time  when  the  legisla 
tive  section  shall  first  assemble,  and  shall  be  delivered  at  farthest  at 
the  expiration  of  a  year  from  that  period:  this  sum  shall  be  augment 
ed  when  the  circumstances  of  New  Spain  shall  permit,  and  delivered, 
along  with  the  other,  specified  In  the  preceding  article,  in  some  one 
of  the  ports  belonging  to  New  Spain  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

13.  The  rest  of  the  countries  of  America,  comprised   in  the  other 
sections,  shall  contribute  to  the  peninsula,  in  the  manner  that  shall 
be  hereafter  fixed  upon,  ami  according  to  their  circumstances. 


40  [  90  ] 

14.  New  Spain  takes  upon  herself  the  payment  of  all  the  puhlic 
debt  contracted  in  her  territory,  by  order  of  her  agents  in  her  name 
and  by  her  authority;  the  lands,  revenues,  and  other  property  of  the 
state,  of  whatever  nature,  without  prejudice  to  what  has  been  agreed 
upon  in  the  llth  article,  shall  be  made  over  to  her,  to  serve  as  an 
hypothecation  of  what  has  been  stipulated  in  said  article. 

15.  The  deputies  of  the  respective  sections*  at  the  time  of  taking 
the  oath  to  observe,  and  cause  to  be  observed,  the  constitution  of  the 
Spanish  monarchy,  shall  add  that  of  complying  with  and  causing 
this  law  to  be  executed. 


[TRANSLATION.] 

D. 

Jose  R.  Ravenga,  one  of  the  Plenipotentiaries  of  Colombia,  near  his 
Catholic  Majesty,  has  the  honor  to  present  his  respects  to  Thomas 
Bront,  Esq.  Charge  d' Affaires  of  the  United  States  of  North  Ameri 
ca,  and  requests  that  he  will  be  pleased  to  name  an  hour  at  which  he 
tan  have  a  personal  interview  with  him. 

House  of  the  Marquis  of  Mos,  Street  of  the  Infantas. 
July  9th,  1821. 


E. 

Thomas  L.  L.  Brent,  Charge  d' Affaires  of  the  United  States,  kisses 
the  hand  of  Senor  Don  Jose  R.  Ravenga,  Plenipotentiary  of  Colom 
bia,  and  will  be  happy,  to  receive  him  at  his  house  at  six  o'clock  this 
evening. 

•Madrid,  9th  July,  1821. 


[TRANSLATION.] 

Manuel  Torres,  Agent  and  Charge  des  Affaires  of  the  Republic  of  Co 
lombia,  in  the  United  States,  to  John  Quincy  Mams,  Esq.  Secretary 
of  State. 

WASHINGTON,  February  20,  1821. 

SIR:  The  Republics  of  Venezuela  and  New  Grenada,  which,  after 
a  devastating  war  of  more  than  ten  years,  have  victoriously  achiev 
ed  the  independence  which  they  had  declared  since  the  year  1811, 
were  united  by  virtue  of  a  fundamental  law  of  the  sovereign  Congress 
of  Venezuela,  of  the  17th  December,  1819,  with  the  glorious  title 


[  90  ]  41 

®f  the  Republic   of  Colombia,  under  which  it  has  taken  its  rank 
among  other  independent  nations, 

In  consequence,  1  have  received  the, order  of  my  government  to 
communicate  to  you,  sir,  this  resolution  worthy  of  Colombia,  and  to 
accompany  it  \vith  the  subjoined  authenticated  copy  of  the  said  fun 
damental  law,  in  order  that  you  may  be  pleased  to  lay  it  before  the 
President  of  the  United  States. 

I  have  also  the  honor  to  present  to  you,  sir,  the  credentials  of  my 
public  character,  and  a  drawing  of  the  national  standard,  which  will 
henceforth  distinguish  Colombia  among  other  sovereign  and  indepen 
dent  States. 

Although  the  foundation  of  the  Republic  of  these  United  States 
would  completely  justify  the  right  of  Colombia,  yet,  with  respect  to 
the  custom  which  has  been  introduced  among  nations,  the  causes 
which  have  rendered  this  measure  indispensable,  have  been  explained 
in  the  Declaration  of  Independence  of  Venezuela,  of  the  5th  July, 
1811,  a  copy  of  which  Don  Telesforo  de  Urea,  then  agent  extraor 
dinary  of  that  Republic,  transmitted  to  your  predecessor. .on  the  6tli 
of  November,  of  the  same  year:  the  other  declaration  of  Venezuela, 
of  the  2d  November,  1818,  and  the  manifesto  of  the  President  of  the 
sovereign  Congress  of  Colombia,  of  the  26th  of  August  last,  copies 
of  which  I  sent  you  with  my  official  letter  of  the  15th  of  last  Decem 
ber,  likewise  mention  them. 

The  conduct  of  Colombia  being  thus  in  all  respects  justified,  no 
doubt  my  government  will  be  recognized  by  that  of  the  United 
States,  as  a  free  and  independent  nation,  a  sister  Republic,  situated 
likewise  in  the  same  hemisphere:  It  is  also  hoped,  that  to  the  recog 
nition  of  the  independence  of  Colombia  on  the  part  of  the  United 
States,  treaties  of  commerce  and  navigation  will  be  added,  founded 
upon  the  bases  of  reciprocal  utility  and  perfect  equality,  as  the  most 
•fficacious  means  of  strengthening  and  increasing  the  relations  of 
amity  between  the  two.  Republics. 

As  you  are  already  acquainted  with  the  solicitude  of  Colombia, 
permit  me,  sir,  to  add  that  it  is  of  the  greatest  importance  to  my 
government  to  know  the  determination  of  the  United  States  in  re 
gard  to  it. 

I  repeat,  sir,  the  homage  of  the  sentiments  of  high  respect  and 
distinguished  consideration,  with  which  I  have  the  honor  to  remain, 
Sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

MANUEL  TORRES. 


42  [  90  ] 

5t 

[TRANSLATION.] 

Fundamental  law  of  the  sovereign  Congress  of  Venezuela,  of  the  \7th 
of  Decembe^,  18 19,  for  the  union  of  the  Republics  of  New  Grenada 
and  Venezuela,  under  the  title  of  the  Republic  of  Colombia. 

THE    FUNDAMENTAL  LAW  OF  THE  REPUBLIC    OF    COLOMBIA. 

The  sovereign  Congress  of  Venezuela,  to  whose  authority  the 
people  of  New  Grenada,  lately  emancipated  hy  the  arms  of  the  Repub 
lic,  have  voluntarily  submitted,  considering— • 

1.  That  by  uniting  the  provinces  of  Venezuela  and  New  Grenada 
in  one  republic,  they  will  have  the  means  of  attaining  the  highest  de 
gree  of  power  and  prosperity. 

2.  That  if  they  should  remain  in  separate  republics,  however  great 
the  bonds  that  might  unite  them,  yet,  far  from  benefiting  by  so  ma 
ny  advantages,  with  difficulty  would  they  consolidate  their  sovereign 
ty,  and  cause  it  to  be  respected. 

3.  That  these  truths,  clearly  perceived  by  every  man  of  sound  un 
derstanding  and  genuine  patriotism,  had  excited  the  governments   of 
both  republics  to  agree  to  their  confederation,  which   the  vicissitudes 
of  war  have  heretofore  prevented. 

From  these  considerations  of  necessity  and  reciprocal  interest,  and 
in  conformity  with  the  report  of  the  select  committee  of  the  deputies 
from  New  Grenada  and  Venezuela,  in  the  name  and  under  the  au 
spices  of  the  Supreme  Being,  has  decreed,  and  does  decree,  the  follow 
ing  fundamental  law  for  the  Republic  of  Colombia: 

ARTICLE  1.  The  Republics  of  Venezuela  and  New  Grenada  shall 
be,  from  the  present  day,  united,  under  the  glorious  title  of  the  Re 
public  of  Colombia. 

£.  Its  territory  shall  be  those  comprehended  in  the  former  captain 
generalship  of  Venezuela,  and  the  vice-royalty  of  the  new  kingdom 
of  Grenada,  embracing  an  extent  of  one  hundred  and  fifteen  thousand 
square  leagues,  whereof  the  exact  boundaries  shall  be  fixed  at  a 
more  seasonable  opportunity. 

3.  The  debts  contracted  by  the  two  republics,  separately,  are  ac 
knowledged  in  solidum,  by  this  law,  as  a  national  debt  of  Colombia, 
for  the  discharge  of  which,  the  goods  and  property  of  the  state   are 
pledged,  and  the  most  productive  of  the  revenue  shall  be  destined. 

4.  The  executive  power  of  the  republic  shall   be  exercised   by  a 
President,  and  in  his  absence  by  a  Vice  President,  both  to  be  appoint 
ed  pro  tern  pore  by  the  present  Congress. 

5.  The  Republic  of  Colombia  shall  be  divided  into  three  great  de 
partments,  Venezuela,  Quito,  and  Cundinamarca,  which  shall  com 
prehend  the  provinces  of  New  Grenada,  whereof  the  name  shall   be 
henceforward  suppressed.     The  capitals  of  these  departments  shall 
be  the  cities  of  Caracas,  Quito,  and  Bogota,  the  addition  of  Santa  Fe 
being  omitted. 

6.  Each  department  shall    have  a  superior  administration,  and 
chief  magistrate,  to  be  appointed  for  the  present  by  this  Congress, 
with  the  title  of  Vice  President. 

7.  A  now  city,  bearing  the  name  of  the  liberator,  Bolivar,  shall  be 


[  90  ]  43 

the  capital  of  the  Republic  of  Colombia.  The  plan  and  site  thereof 
shall  be  determined  by  the  first  general  Congress,  upon  the  princi 
ple  of  making  it  suitable  for  the  conveniences  of  the  three  depart-' 
ments,  and  proportioned  to  the  grandeur  for  which  this  rich  country 
is  destined  by  nature. 

8.  The  General  Congress  of  Colombia  shall  assemble  on   the  1st 
day  of  January,  1821,  .in  the  town  of  Rosario  de  Cucuta,    which  in 
every  respect  is  considered  the  most  suitable  place.     The  convoca 
tion  shall  be  made  by  the  President  of  the  republic,  on  the  1st  Janu 
ary,  1 820,  who  shall  also  communicate  the  plan  for  the  elections,  to  be 
devised  by  a  select  committee,  and  approved  by  the  present  Congress. 

9.  The  constitution  of  the  Republic  of  Colombia  shall   be  formed 
by  the  General  Congress,  to  whom  shall  be  presented  the  project  of 
one  already  decreed;  together  with  the  laws  enacted  by  this  Congress, 
to  be  immediately  carried  into  execution,  by  way  of  experiment. 

10.  The  arms  and  flag  for  Colombia  shall  be  decreed  by  the  Gen 
eral  Congress.  In  the  mean  time,  those  of  Venezuela  shall  be  em 
ployed,  as  they  are  known. 

11.  The   present  Congress   shall  dissolve  on  the   15th   January, 
1820,  in  order  that  the  new  elections  may  take  place  for  the  General 
Congress  of  Colombia. 

12.  A  commission  of  six  members,  with  a  president,  invested  with 
special  powers,  to  be  decreed,  shall  occupy  the  place  of  Congress  dur 
ing  its  recess. 

13.  The  Republic  of  Colombia  shall  be  solemnly  proclaimed  to 
the  citizens  and  the  armies,  with  public  feasts  and  rejoicings,  to  take 
place  in  this  capital,  on  the  25th  December,  instant,  commemorating 
the  nativity  of  the  Saviour  of  mankind,   under  whose  protection  the 
state  has  been  regenerated  by  this  re-union. 

14.  The  anniversary  of  this  political  regeneration  shall  be  per 
petually  celebrated  by  a  national  feast,  where  virtue  and  talents,  as 
formerly  at  Olympia,  shall  be  distinguished  and  rewarded. 

The  present  fundamental  law  for  the  Republic  of  Colombia  shall 
be  promulgated  in  the  settlements  and  armies,  inserted  in  the  public 
journals,  and  deposited  in  the  archives  of  the  cabildos,  municipali 
ties,  and  corporations,  whether  ecclesiastical  or  secular. 

Given  at  the  palace  of  the  Sovereign  Congress  of  Venezuela,  in  the 
city  of  St.  Thomas  of  Angostura,  on  the  17th  day  of  December, 
A.  D.  1819,  and  in  the  ninth  year  of  our  Independence. 

Francisco  Antonio  Zea,  President  of  Congress. 

Juan  German  Roscio,  Diego  Bantista  Urbaneja, 

Manuel  Sedeno,  Juan  Vincerite  Cardoso, 

Juan  Martinez,  Ignacio   Mufioz, 

Jose  Espana,  Onofre  Basaio, 

Luis  Thomas  Peraza,  Domingo  Alzurn, 

Antonio  M.  Briceno,  Jose  Thomas  Machad, 

Eusebio  Afanador,  Ramon  Garcia  Cadrz. 
Francisco  Conde, 

Diego  de  Vallenilla,  Deputy  /Secretary. 


44  [  90  ] 

DECREE. 

Palace  of  the  Sovereign  Congress  of  Venezuela,  at  Angostura,  the 
17th  December,   1819 — ninth. 

The  Sovereign  Congress  decrees,  that  the  present  fundamental  law 
for  the  Republic  of  Colombia,  shall  be  communicated  to  the  Supreme 
Executive  power,  by  a  deputation  for  its  publication  and  execution. 

FRANCISCO  ANTONIO  ZEA, 
President  of  Congress, 
DIEGO  DE  VALLENIIXA,  Deputy  Secretary. 

Jfalace  of  the  Government,  at  Angostura,  the  17 th  Dec.  1819 — ninth. 

Ordered  to  be  printed,  proclaimed,  executed,  and  sealed  with  the 
seal  of  the  state. 

SIMON  BOLIVAR. 

By  his  Excellency,  the  President  of  the  Republic, 

DIEGO  B.  URBANEJA,  Minister  of  the  Interior  and  of  Justice. 
A  true  copy— Washington,  20th  Feb.  1821.  (llth.) 

MANUEL  TORRES. 


[TRANSLATION.] 

REPUBLIC  OF  COLOMBIA. 

ANGOSTURA,  1820. 

Juan  German  Roscio,  Vice  President  of  the  Department  of  Ven 
ezuela,  and  charged  with  the  government  of  the  Republic,  on  account 
of  the  absence  of  the  President  oh  the  campaign,  and  of  the  Vice 
President  on  commission. 

Whereas,  it  is  important  to  the  prosperity  of  Colombia,  and  to  the 
dignity  of  that  station  to  which  it  has  been  elevated,  to  establish  di 
plomatic  intercourse  with  other  nations,  and  to  make  treaties  which 
may  confirm  its  friendship  with  them,  regulate  its  commerce,  and 

Srotect  mutual  interests:  and  this  government  being  desirous  of 
rawing  more  close  the  relations  and  bonds  of  union  and  good  cor 
respondence  which  already  happily  exist  with  that  of  the  United 
States;  therefore,  I  have  nominated,  arid,  by  these  presents,  do  appoint 
arid  authorize  Manuel  Torres,  Esq.  that  in  the  rank  arid  with  the 
character  of  Agent  and  Charge  des  Affaires  of  the  Republic  of  Colom 
bia,  he  present  himself  and  treat  with  the  said  United  States,  and, 
Conformably  to  the  instructions  which  have  been  given  him,  to  pro 
mote  the  interests  and  advantage  of  Colombia,  by  reconciling  them 
with  those  of  said  states,  upon  the  principles  of  *  the  most  intimate, 
frank,  and  sincere  friendship. 


[  90  ]  45 

Given  at  the  Palace  of  Government  at  Angostura;  signed  by  my 
hand,  sealed  with  the  provisional  seal  of  the  Republic,  and  counter 
signed  by  the  Secretary  of  State  and  Foreign  Relations,  the  15th  of 
May,  1820. 

JUAN  G.  ROSCIO. 

By  his  Excellency  the  Vice  President  of  Venezuela,  charged  with 
the  government  of  Colombia. 

JOSEPH  R.  RAVENGA, 

The  Minister  of  State  and  Foreign  Relations. 


[TRANSLATION.] 

Don  Manuel  Torres  to  the  Secretary  of  State. 

PHILADELPHIA,  November  30, 1821. 

SIR:  Since  I  had  the  honor  of  addressing  to  you  my  official  note  of 
the  20th  of  February  last,  requesting  the  President  of  the  United 
States  the  formal  acknowledgment  of  the  independence  of  the  Repub 
lic  of  Colombia,  as  a  free,  sovereign,  and  independent  state,  new  suc 
cesses  have  taken  place,  which,  at  the  same  time  that  they  remove 
any  well-founded  obstacle  which  might  at  that  time  have  been  in  the 
way  of  the  government  of  the  United  States  to  prevent  their  acced 
ing  to  the  wish  of  that  Republic,  render  now  the  said  measure  more 
urgent,  and  I  might  say  indispensable,  in  consequence  of  the  recent 
events  in  Peru  and  New  Spain,  and  the  conduct  of  the  Spanish  go 
vernment  towards  America,  always  unjust  and  always  capricious. 

In  compliance  with  the  orders  which  I  have  received  from  the  mi 
nister  of  foreign  relations,  of  date  the  3d  of  August,  in'  Cucuta,  I 
hasten  to  communicate  to  you,  sir,  what  has  occurred  in  Colombia 
since  the  recommencement  of  hostilities  with  Spain,  and  to  inform 
you  of  the  real  actual  state  of  the  Republic,  that  you  may  be  pleased 
to  lay  it  before  the  President  of  the  United  States. 

In  conformity  with  the  fundamental  law  of. the  irth  of  December, 
1819,  the  solemn  act  of  the  installation  of  the  General  Congress  of 
the  Republic  of  Colombia,  composed  of  representatives  named  by  the 
people  of  the  nineteen  free  provinces  of  New  Grenada  and  Venezuela, 
took  place  on  the  6th  of  May  last,  in  the  city  of  Rosario,  of  Cucuta, 
as  is  shewn  by  the  oilicial  document,  No.  1,  which  I  have  the  honor 
to  enclose  to  you. 

The  General  Congress  being  installed,  one  of  the  first  measures 
which  called  the  attention  of  the  legislative  body,  was  the  great  ques 
tion  of  the  fundamental  law,  and,  after  long  and  elaborate  debate?, 
in  which  each  member  expressed  his  opinion  with  the  greatest  free 
dom,  the  union  of  New  Grenada  and  Venezuela  into  one  body  as  a 
nation,  under  the  express  agreement  of  a  popular  representative  go 
vernment,  divided  into  Legislative,  Executive,  and  Judicial,  autho 
rities,  was  adopted  and  sanctioned  by  a  plurality  of  votes;  and,  also, 


46  [  90  ] 

the  (Jj  vision  of  the  territory  of  the  Republic  into  departments  or  ciu- 
cies,  according  to  the  evidence  in  No.  2. 

The  document  numbered  3,  is  the  manifesto  which,  on  the  sixth  of 
June,  the  President  of  Congress  addressed  to  the  people  arid  armies 
of  the  Republic,  notifying  them  of  so  important  a  measure;  and  No. 
4  contains  the  fundamental  law. 

Whilst  the  Congress  was  engaged  with  patriotic  spirit  in  discuss 
ing  and  making  laws  conducive  to  the  correct  administration  of  jus 
tice,  to  the  regulation  and  management  of  the  revenues,  and  to  the 
promotion  of  public  instruction,  in  all  the  provinces  and  places  of  the 
state,  the  attention  of  the  liberator  President  was  engaged  in  con 
ducting  an  active  war  against  the  enemy,  to  expel  them  entirely  from 
the  territory  of  the  Republic.  The  arms  of  Colombia  experienced 
once  more  the  aid  of  a  beneficent  providence,  and  they  accomplished, 
at  one  blow,  the  entire  destruction  of  the  Spanish  power  in  Vene 
zuela,  in  the  memorable  battle  of  Carabobo,  on  the  24th  of  June. 

The  enemy  lost  their  park  of  artillery,  their  baggage,  their  all,  in 
their  very  entrenchments,  and  of  more  than  six  thousand  men  who 
were  assembled  at  that  military  point,  scarcely  could  a  *mall  number 
escape,  who  were  able  to  retire  within  the  walls  of  Porto  Cabello. 

The  formidable  fortress  of  Carthagena,  and  that  of  Cumana,  also 
fell  successively,  so  that  Porto  Cabello,  in  Venezuela,  and  the  isth 
mus  of  Panama,  in  New  Grenada,  are  the  only  two  points  which  the 
Spaniards,  for  the  moment,  occupy  in  all  the  vast  territory  of  Colom 
bia;  and,  probably,  before  the  termination  of  the  present  year,  both 
will  be  incorporated  with  the  Republic. 

Although  the  isthmus  of  Panama,  from  its  scanty  population,  its 
absolute  want  of  agriculture,  and  its  situation,  can  contribute  little  or 
nothing  to  the  increase  or  facility  of  the  interior  or  exterior  commerce 
of  the  new  Republic,  still  its  occupation  is  of  great  importance  to  Co 
lombia,  under  the  view  of  its  own  future  security,  and  that  of  the  rest 
of  America;  and  from  the  great  facility  which  the  river  Chagrez  af 
fords  for  the  commerce  of  Peru,  and  that  of  the  provinces  of  New 
Spain,  which  lie  along  the  Pacific,  since  the  distances,  the  dangers, 
and  expenses  of  a  navigation  by  Cape  Horn,  are  considerably  dimi 
nished. 

But  it  was  not  enough  for  the  Liberator  President  to  annihilate  the 
formidable  legions  with  which  the  Spaniards  oppressed  the  country, 
it  was  also  necessary  to  preserve  good  understanding  and  harmony 
among  the  inhabitants  of  Colombia,  arid  to  maintain  among  foreign 
naU'?5is  the  respect  and  reputation  of  the  authorities  of  the  Republic, 
\vhich  the  agents  of  Ferdinand  the  Seventh  have  constantly  defamed, 
by  circulating,  through  the  medium  of  the  press,  the  most  infamous 
falsehoods  against  them.  He  had  no  other  means  of  realizing  his  ob 
ject  but  exposing  to  the  impartial  world  the  perfidious  conduct  which 
the  Peninsular  government  had  incessantly  observed  towards  the 
Americans;  and,  to  the  incontrovertible  manner  in  which  he  did  so,  bv 
/he  proclamation  which  he  addressed  to  the  Spaniards  on  the  23th  of 
April,  from  the  city  of  Barinas,  is  partly  due  the  success  of  the  repub 
lican  arms  in  Colombia  and  in  Peru. 


[ 90  1  47 

The  inhabitants  of  Colombia,  after  eleven  years  of  a  war,  as  un 
just  as  cruel  and  destructive,  guided  by  the  genius  of  their  liberator 
president,  have  achieved  the  liberty  and  independence  of  their  coun 
try  without  the  least  foreign  aid;  have  given  themselves  a  popular 
and  representative  government,  and  a  constitution  well  calculated  to 
preserve  the  principles  of  liberty  and  equality  and  to  promote  the  ge 
neral  prosperity. 

With  respect  to  the  ability  and  capacity  of  Colombia  to  maintain 
its  independence,  no  well-founded  doubt  can  arise  upon  that  point,  if 
we  consider  on  one  hand  the  great  population  of  the  republic,  which 
exceeds  3,600,000  souk,  tiie  extent  of  its  territory,  its  natural  and 
artificial  resources,  and  its  situation;  and,  on  the  other,  the  great  mi 
litary  talent  displayed  by  its  generals  and  officers,  and  the  discipline 
and  valor  manifested  by  its  troops  on  all  occasions,  but  particularly 
in  the  celebrated  battles  ofBoyacaawl  Carabobo,  in  the  capture  of 
St.  Martha,  defended  by  seventeen  exterior  batteries,  all  taken  by 
assault,  and  the  reduction  of  the  fortresses  of  Carthagena  and  Cu- 
mana. 

Some  idea  may  be  also  formed  of  the  degree  of  splendor,  power, 
and  future  prosperity,  of  the  new  republic,  by  considering  it  placed 
in  the  centre  of  the  universe,  with  an  extent  of  coast  of  twelve  hun 
dred  miles  on  the  Atlantic,  from  the  Orinoco  to  the  isthmus  of  Da- 
rien,  and  of  seven  hundred  miles  on  the  Pacific  ocean,  from  Panama 
tofiahiade  Tumbez;  and  exempt,  at  all  seasons,  from  any  of  those 
dreadful  hurricanes  which  cause  such  disasters  in  the  Antilles,  in  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  in  other  places. 

The  great  canals  which  are  formed  by  the  river  Orinoco  and  its 
tributary  streams,  the  Sulia,  with  the  lake  of  Maracaybo,  the  Mag- 
dalena,  the  Cauca,  and  the  Atrato,  which  all  empty  into  the  Atlantic, 
render  Colombia  the  most  favored  part  of  the  universe  for  interior 
navigation;  and,  by  a  union  of  aJl  climates,  unites,  also,  in  great 
abundance,  the  productions  of  the  three  kingdoms  of  nature. 

Agriculture  is  farther  advanced  in  Colombia  than  in  any  other 
part  of  continental  America,  formerly  Spanish,  and  its  products  of 
exportation,  which  consist  chiefly  of  cocoa,  coffee,  indigo,  tobacco  of 
Barinas,  and  some  cotton,  are  of  a  quality  superior  to  those  of  other 
countries,  except  the  cotton.  With  respect  to  the  precious  metals, 
Colombia  is  interior  neither  to  Mexico  nor  Peru,  with  the  advantage 
that  their  discovery  is  more  easy  and  less  expensive.  She  also 
unites,  by  prolonged  canals,  two  oceans  which  nature  had  separat 
ed;  and  by  her  proximity  to  the  United  States  and  to  Europe,  ap 
pears  to  have  been  destined,  by  the  Author  of  Nature,  as  the  centre 
and  the  empire  of  the  human  family. 

Under  these  auspices  it  was,  that  the  new  republic  took  her  rank 
among  othef  fr^e,  sovereign,  and  independent  nations,  and  that  I  had 
the  honor,  in  my  note  to  you,  sir,  of  the  C20th  of  February  last,  to 
solicit  the  recognition  of  her  independence,  on, the  part  of  the  Presi 
dent  of  the  United  States;  which  request  I  repeat  anew  in  this. 


48  [  90  ] 

The  glory  and  the  satisfaction  of  being  the  first  to  recognize  the 
independence  of  a  new  republic  in  the  south  of  this  continent  belongs, 
in  all  respects  and  considerations,  to  the  government  of  the  United 
States;  and  this  recognition  would  be,  after  all,  but  a  measure,  which 
the  humanity,  the  justice,  and  the  convenience  and  interest  of  this 
nation,  demand. 

Reduced,  as  Spain  is,  to  an  absolute  inability  to  continue  the  war, 
her  pride  wishes  an  opening,  perhaps,  to  meet  with  a  pretext  for 
making  her  peace  with  the  Americans,  and  nothing  would  better  an 
swer  her  purpose,  than  the  recognition  of  the  independence  of  Co 
lombia  by  the  Federal  government* 

On  the  other  hand,  if  the  war  between  Spain  and  Colombia  must 
continue,  the  law  of  neutrality  of  the  United  States  would  operate 
with  equality  with  respect  to  both  belligerents,  which  was  not  and 
cannot  be  the  case,  whilst  this  government  does  not  recognize  the 
independence  of  the  new  republic.  Lastly,  between  the  United 
States  and  Colombia,  there  can  never  exist  a  competition  or  rival- 
ship  in  agriculture,  commerce,  and  navigation,  because,  Colombia 
has  no  mercantile  navy,  nor  can  she  form  one  for  many  years,  and 
the  products  of  exportation  of  her  agriculture  are  entirely  different 
from  those  which  are  cultivated  in  the  United  States.  She  wants 
annually  twenty  thousand  barrels  of  flour,  and  other  provisions  from 
these  States,  for  which  she  pays  in  coffee,  indigo,  hides  in  the  hair, 
and  in  money,  according  as  the  intercourse  between  the  two  countries 
is  favorable  to  the  agriculture  of  both. 

The  political  events  of  Peru  and  Mexico  render  the  recognition  of 
the  independence  of  Colombia,  urgent,  on  account  of  the  great  confi 
dence  with  which  this  act  would  inspire  those  nations,  to  establish 
popular  representative  governments.  AJ1  South  America  formerly 
Spanish,  is  emancipated,  that  is,  upwards  of  eleven  millions  of  souls; 
this  has  given  a  new  importance  to  the  New  World,  and  now  they 
are  no  more  afraid  of  the  machinations  of  the  Holy  Alliance  to  keep 
America  dependent  upon  Europe,  and  to  prevent  the  establishment  of 
free  governments. 

The  present  political  state  of  New  Spain  requires  the  most  earnest 
attention  of  the  government  of  the  United  States;  there  has  occurred  a 
project,  long  since  formed,  to  establish  a  monarchy  in  Mexico,  on 
purpose  to  favor  the  views  of  the  Holy  Alliance  in  the  New  World  ; 
this  is  a  new  reason  which  ought  to  determine  the  President  of  the 
United  States  no  longer  to  delay  a  measure,  which  will  naturally  es 
tablish  an  American  alliance,  capable  of  counteracting  the  projects  of 
the  European  powers,  and  of  protecting  our  republican  institutions. 
My  government  has  entire  confidence  in  the  prudence  of  the  President, 
in  his  disposition  to  favor  the  cause  of  the  liberty  and  of  the  indepen 
dence  of  South  America,  and  his  great  experience  in  the  management 
of  public  business. 

Confined,  for  about  three  months  past,  to  my  bed  or  my  chamber, 
by  a  grievous  indisposition,  which  still  gives  me  very  few  moments 


[  90  ]  49 

of  repose,  it  has  not  been  in  ray  power  to  address  this  communication 
to  you  sooner. 

I  have  the  honor  to  remain,  with  the  highest  respect  and  distin 
guished  consideration,  sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

MANUEL  TORRES. 


[TRANSLATION.] 

Don  Manuel  Torres  to  the  Secretary  of  State. 

PHILADELPHIA,  30th  Dec.  1821. 

SIR:  The  General  Congress  of  the  Republic  of  Colombia,  in  the 
session  of  the  6th  of  September,  appointed  the  Liberator  and  Captain 
General,  Simon  Bolivar,  President  of  the  State,  and  General  Fran 
cisco  de  Paula  Santander,  Vice  President,  for  the  constitutional  term 
of  four  years;  and  on  the  3d  of  October  they  took  possession  of  their 
respective  magistracies,  after  having  taken  the  oath  prescribed  by 
the  constitution. 

The  functions  of  the  Executive  power  devolved,  from  the  10th  of 
said  October,  on  the  Vice  President  of  the  State,  agreeably  to  the 
losiii  article  of  the  Constitution,  in  consequence  of  the  Liberator 
President  having  taken  the  command  of  the  armies  of  the  Republic. 

The  Supreme  Government  has  fixed  its  residence  in  the  city  of  Bo 
gota,  in  virtue  of  a  decree  of  the  General  Congress,  of  the  8th  of  the 
saujvi  October;  and,  by  another  decree  of  the  Liberator  President,  of 
the  7th,  the  Seilor  Pedro  Gual  has  been  appointed  Secretary  of  State 
and  Foreign  Relations  of  the  government  of  Colombia. 

I  communicate  this  to  you,  sir,  that  you  may  be  pleased  to  commu 
nicate  it  to  the  President  of  the  United  States. 

I  renew  to  you,  sir,  the  sentiments  of  respect  and  distinguished 
consideration  with  which  I  have  the  honor  to  remain,  &c. 

MANUEL  TORRES. 


[TRANSLATION.] 

Don  Manuel  Torres  to  the  Secretary  of  State. 

PHILADELPHIA,  2d  January,  1822. 

SIR:  In  the  official  note  which  I  addressed  to  you,  on  the  20th  of 
February  of  the  last  year,  soliciting  the  recognition  of  the  Republic 
of  Colombia,  on  the  part  of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  I  re 
presented  how  important  it  was  to  my  government  to  know  the  de- 
termination  of  the  United  States  respecting  the  said  demand. 

In  that  which  I  had  the  honor  to  transmit  to  you,  dated  the  30th 
of  November  last,  I  repeated  the  substance  of  that  of  the  20th  of 
February,  and  I  suggested  some  additional  powerful  reasons  which 
urgently  required  the  positive  knowledge  of  the  decision  of  the  Pro- 


5(5  [  90  ] 

sident  of  the  United  States  in  regard  to  a  question  of  so  much  impor 
tance;  to  my  government  in  the  present  circumstances,  for  the  regu 
lation  of  its  political  and  commercial  relations  with  other  nations. 

I  ought  not  to  conceal,  Sir,  my  pain  in  being  compelled  to  distract 
your  attention  by  requesting,  once  more,  an  answer  to  my  former 
notes.  This  course,  under  all  circumstances  an  indispensable  duty 
of  my  station,  has  been  rendered  the  more  urgent  by  the  negotiations 
of  peace  between  Colombia  and  Spain,  having  lost  all  their  impor 
tance,  in  consequence  of  the  Peninsular  government  tenaciously  per 
sisting  in  its  extravagant  and  unjust  pretensions,  at  the  very  time  of 
its  most  absolute  incapacity  and  impotence  to  invade  the  territory  of 
the  Republic,  or  to  prevent  the  prosperity  which  its  inhabitants  now 
begin  to  enjoy;  a  blessing  of  the  independence  which  they  have  gain 
ed  by  their  arms,  and  of  the  liberty  which  their  constitution  secures 
to  them. 

The  present  state  of  my  health  does  not  yet  permit  me  to  visit  the 
capital;  but  I  shall  do  so  as  soon  as  I  can  undertake  the  journey 
without  inconvenience. 

Be  pleased,  Sir,  to  accept  the  homage  of  the  sentiments  of  esteem, 
and  distinguished  consideration,  with  which  I  have  the  honor  tobe,&c. 

MANUEL  TORRES. 


Secretary  of  State  to  Don  Manuel  Torres. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  STATE, 
Washington,  ISth  January  9  1822. 

SIR:  In  reference  to  your  letters  of  the  30th  of  November  last,  and 
the  I2d  of  this  month,  I  have  the  honor  of  informing  you,  that  the  sub 
ject  to  which  they  relate,  is  under  the  consideration  of  the  President 
of  the  United  States,  whose  definitive  decision  concerning  it  shall, 
when  taken,  be  forthwith  communicated  to  you.  In  the  mean  time, 
should  you  receive  advices  of  the  surrender  of  Porto  Cavello,  and  the 
Isthmus  of  Panama,  1  have  to  request  you  would  favor  me  with  the 
information  of  those  events  as  early  as  may  suit  your  convenience. 

I  pray  you,  sir,  to  accept  the  assurance  of  my  distinguished  con 
sideration.  JOHN  QUIJNCY  ADAMS. 


To  the  Secretary  of  State  of  the  United  States  of  America. 

MEXICO,  2  5th  October,  1821. 

SIR:  The  love  of  my  country,  the  spring  of  every  noble  and  gene 
rous  action,  induces  me  to  communicate  to  you,  for  the  information 


[90]  51 

of  the  President,  and  for  the  benefit  that  may  result  to  the  govern 
ment  and  citizens  of  the  United  States,  the  following  circumstantial 
and  exact  account  of  the  happy  revolution  that  has  lately  occurred 
in  this  kingdom  of  New  Spain,  which,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  the 
intrepidity,  talents,  and  exertions,  of  its  patriotic  chief,  General  Don 
Augustin  Iturbide,  the  enlightened  policy  of  its  mother  country,  and 
the  liberal  and  philanthropic  ideas  of  its  late  Captain  General  Don 
Juan  O'Donoju,  has  ended  in  its  complete  and  entire  emancipation. 

That  you  may  have  a  clear  and  distinct  view  of  the  subject,  be 
fully  impressed  with  the  justice  of  the  cause  of  this  hitherto  afflicted 
and  oppressed  people,  and  have  also  a  general  idea  of  the  face  of  the 
country,  its  inhabitants,  productions,  &c.  it  may  not  be  improper  to 
state,  that,  since  its  conquest,  which,  if  my  memory  serves  me,  was  in 
the  year  1521,  it  has  been  governed  by  sixty -two  viceroys,  and  in 
numerable  commandant  generals,  governors,  and  superintendents  of 
provinces,  who,  according  to  general  tradition,  have  been,  with  very 
few  exceptions,  as  many  merciless  and  mercenary  tyrants,  the  rapa 
city  and  unfeeling  barbarity  of  which  nothing  could  have  withstood 
for  sucli  a  length  of  time;  but  a  land  enriched  by  the  beautiful  hand 
of  nature  to  a  most  extraordinary  degree,  and  a  people  born  and 
brought  up,  until  of  late,  in  all  the  intolerance  of  superstition  and 
ignorance,  and  accustomed  from  its  earliest  infancy  to  the  innumera 
ble,  and  I  may  say  almost  incredible  impositions,  of  both  church  and 
state. 

Few  foreigners  have,  perhaps,  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  as 
much  of  the  kingdom  as  myself,  having  travelled  on  horseback  from 
the  port  of  Guaymas,  on  the  gulf  of  California,  to  almost  every  part 
of  Sonora,  and  afterwards  through  the  provinces  and  superinten 
dences  of  New  Biscay,  New  Galicia,  San  Luis  Potosi,  Queretaro, 
and  Mexico,  to  this  city;  a  distance  at  least  of  700  leagues,  passing 
through  all  the  principal  cities,  visiting  the  most  celebrated  mines, 
and  conversing  familiarly  with  all  classes  of  people. 

The  provinces  of  Puebla,  Mexico,  Merhoacan,  San  Luis  Potosi, 
and  Guanajuate,  may  be  termed  the  central  ones,  and  of  those  I  have 
seen,  the  best  watered,  most  fertile,  most  productive,  and  most  inha 
bited;  those  that  border  on  the  gulf  of  Mexico  are  Merida  de  Yuca 
tan,  Oaxaca,  Vera  Cruz,  New  Santandero,  and  Texas;  the  second, 
from  all  accounts,  beautiful  in  the  extreme;  and  the  third  and  last 
very  fertile,  but  almost  entirely  uncultivated:  those  on  th*»  Pacific 
ocean  and  gulf  of  California,  New  Galicia,  Sinaloa  and  Sonora,  fer 
tile  in  parts,  but  wry  scant  of  water,  and  the  extensive  internal  ones 
of  New  Leon,  New  Biscay,  and  New  Mexico,  that  reaches  to  the  la 
titude  of  42°  N.  which  have  for  the  most  part  the  same  defect,  and 
which  may  be  called  a  general  one  throughout  the  kingdom,  there 
being  in  most  parts  but  little  rain,  and  in  no  part  excepting  Texas, 
what  we  would  call  rivers;  where  there  is  an  abundance  of  water, 
however,  the  country  is  wonderfully  fertile,  producing  in  many  parts 
two  and  three  crops  a  year,  and  yielding  each  time  four  and  five  hun 
dred  for  one,  with  the  singular  advantage  of  a  diversity  of  tempera- 


52  [  90  ] 

ture  within  very  short  distances,  produced  by  the  greater  or  less  ele 
vation  of  the  lands,  the  centre  of  the  kingdom  being  from  eight  to 
twelve  thousand  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  so  that  it  is  not  un 
common  to  see  in  the  same  market,  all  the  fruits,  grains,  and  other 
productions,  of  temperate,  hot,  and  cold  climates,  as  is  the  case  in 
this,  and  most  of  the  principal  cities. 

Before  the  insurrection  of  the  year  1810,  the  kingdom  contained 
six  millions  of  inhabitants,  and  it  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  Provi 
dence  has  been  no  less  lavish  in  the  distribution  of  her  gifts  as  re 
spects  mankind,  than  in  the  fertility  and  production  of  the  earth;  the 
natives  of  this  country,  not  excepting  even  the  Indians,  being  endow 
ed  with  a  quickness  of  perception  and  ability  to  acquire  and  make 
themselves  masters  of  the  arts  and  sciences,  that  is  very  notable,  and 
far  exceeds  that  of  the  inhabitants  of  Old  Spain,  and,  perhaps,  many 
other  countries.  At  the  abovementioned  period,  the  kingdom  may  he 
said  to  have  been  at  its  acme  of  prosperity;  the  royal  revenue  exceed 
ing  twenty  millions  of  dollars,  and  the  money  coined  at  the  mint  of 
this  city,  upwards  of  twenty-eight  millions  annually;  it  has,  however, 
ever  since  been  on  the  decline,  in  consequence  of  the  devastations  com 
mitted  by  both  parties  in  the  long  and  cruel  war  carried  on  between 
the  Europeans  and  Americans,  so  that  the  population  cannot  now  be 
computed  at  more  than  four  millions;  the  revenue  at  more  than  half 
of  what  it  was,  and  the  money  coined  yearly,  at  from  five  to  eight  mil 
lions;  this  year  it  will  probably  not  exceed  four. 

I  have  been  informed  that  a  very  correct  history  of  this  insurrection 
up  to  the  unfortunate  expedition  of  General  Miria,  has  been  written 
by  a  Mr.  Robinson,  and  published  in  Philadelphia;  it  is  useless,  there 
fore,  to  say  more  on  the  ^subject  than  that  its  commencement  was 
undoubtedly  caused  by  the  abuses  daily  committed  in  all  branches  of 
the  government  in  this  kingdom,  by  the  disorder  in  which  Spain  was 
thrown  in  consequence  of  the  invasion  of  the  French,  and  by  the  im 
prudent  measures  adopted  in  this  city,  one  of  which  was  the  arrest  of 
the  viceroy  Iturigaray,  and  many  of  its  principal  American  inhabi 
tants:  it  is  also  worthy  of  remark,  that,  in  proportion  as  it  was  pro 
longed,  the  evils  encreased,  and  its  symptoms  became  more  malignant; 
the  various  incidents  of  the  struggle,  imbruing  its  character  with  blood, 
produced  other  passions,  and  among  them  those  of  rancor  and  hatred, 
which,  irritated  and  inflamed  by  the  inconsideration,  imprudence, 
and  want  of  policy,  on  both  sides,  divided  the  kingdom  into  two  par 
ties,  the  Europeans  and  Americans,  whose  respective  opinions  formed 
essentially  the  war  that  destroyed  both. 

Among  those  that  contributed  most  to  quell  the  insurrection,  was 
the  before  mentioned  General  Don  Augustin  Iturbide,  then  colonel  of 
the  regiment  of  Celaya,  and  native  of  the  city  of  Valladolid,  in  the 
province  of  Mechoacan;  born  of  European  parents,  and  animated  by 
a  mistaken  zeal,  he  was  induced  to  embrace  the  royal  cause,  and, 
with  a  fervor  and  impetuosity  peculiar  to  his  character,  committed 
many  arbitrary  and  violent  acts,  that,  in  a  great  degree,  tarnished 
what  would  otherwise  have  been  deemed  brilliant  achievements,  and 


[  90  1  53 

over  which  it  is  necessary  to  draw  a  veil,  his  subsequent  conduct  hav 
ing  entirely  effaced  them  from  the  memory  even  of  those  most  aggriev 
ed.  Indeed,  it  would  appear  that  a  sense  of  the  injustice  he  had  com 
mitted,  an  innate  conviction  of  the  impropriety  of  adhering  to  the 
party  he  had  espoused,  and  a  remorse  of  conscience,  were  the  princi 
pal  causes  of  the  change  in  his  political  sentiments;  for  we  see  him  all 
at  once  assume  a  different  character,  and  at  a  moment  when  his  sove 
reign  had  heaped  upon  him  innumerable  honors. 

The  impossibility  of  re-establishing  peace  and  quietness  in  the 
kingdom  by  the  force  of  arms,  was  fully  ascertained  during  the  vice- 
royalty  of  the  Captain  Generals  Venegas  and  Calleja,  of  whom  it 
may  be  said  that  they  rather  dispersed  than  conquered  the  Americans, 
the  country  being  in  a  complete  state  of  revolt,  and  full  of  chieftains 
that  commanded  from  three  to  six  hundred,  and  even  a  thousand  men 
each,  and  hands  of  robbers  that  infested  the  highways  in  September, 
1816,  when  the  viceroy  Apodaca  arrived.     To  this  disinterested, 
good,  and  virtuous  man,  is  due  the  pacification  of  the  kingdom;  his 
penetration,  skill,  and  humanity,  having  suggested  to  him  the  pro 
priety  of  layin  -•  aside  the  arms  that  had  hitherto  been  in  use,  and  of 
winning  tbe  affections  of  the  people  by  means  of  persuasion,  pardons, 
and  premiums,  who  without  general  officers,  money,  or  any  imme 
diate  expectation  of  establishing  the   liberty  of  their  country,  and 
weary  of  the  wandering  and  wretched  life  they  had  so  long  endured, 
embraced  readily  the  opportunity  that  presented  of  returning  to  the 
bosom  of  their  families.     No  sooner  was  the  plan  adopted  than  its 
wisdom  became  palpable;  entire  towns  and  districts  yielding  to  the 
solicitations  of  the  agents  appointed  by  the  government  for  carrying 
it  into  execution,  so  that  at  the  end  of  two  years  all  was  tranquillity., 
and  you  could  travel  in  every  direction  without  escort  of  arms,  ex 
cept  that  of  Acapulco,  between  which  and  this  city  the  chieftains 
Guerrero,  Asensio,  and  a  Colonel  Bradburn,  of  Virginia,  that  came 
with  General  Mina,  with  about  fifteen  hundred  men,  had  taken  re 
fuge,  and  fortified  an  almost  inaccessible  mountain,  from  whence  they 
made  predatory  excursions.     To  reduce  these  to  obedience  was  the 
ultimate  object  and  wish  of  the  government,  and,  with  this  view  Gene 
ral  Yturbide  was  invested  with  the  important  military  command  of 
the  department  of  the  south,  that  contained  about  three  thousand  vete 
ran  troops,  and  had  its  head-quarters  in  the  town  of  Yguala,  distant 
about  thirty  leagues  from  this  city,  on  the  direct  road  to  Acapuko. 
It  is  proper  to  mention  here,  that  a  few  months  previous  to  his  nomi 
nation,  news  had  been  received  of  the  regeneration  of  Old  Spain,  and 
of  the  establishment  of -the  constitution  in  that  country,  a  circum 
stance  that  created  great  alarm  in  this  among  the  clergy  and  friars: 
the  lower  class  of  people  were  also  taught  to  believe  that  the  planting 
of  it  here  would  be  attended  with  the  entire  destruction  of  their  long 
established  forms  of  religion. 

The  Viceroy,  Apodaca,  who  was  now  graced  with  the  title  of 
"  Conde  del  Venadito,"  was  also  opposed  to  the  new  system,  and 
discovered  so  much  reluctance  in  the  change  of  his  measures,  that 


54  [  90  ] 

lus  unwillingness  and  tardy  mode  of  proceeding  became  evident  to 
all,  and  gave  occasion  to  many  just  and  violent  complaints  that  were 
made  by  its  admirers,  who  publicly  accused  bim  of  its  infraction, 
white  the  American  writers,  taking  advantage  of  the  liberty  of  the 
press,  and  confused  and  unsettled  state  of  the  public  opinion,  called 
aloud  for  independence  as  the  only  certain  remedy  for  the  numerous 
evils  that  surrounded  them. 

The  crisis  was  too  important  and  obvious  to  escape  the  penetration 
of  our  hero  Yturbide,  who  was  also  instigated  to  an  immediate  exe 
cution  of  the  plan  he  had  in  consequence  formed  of  liberating  his  coun 
try  forever  from  its  thraldom,  by  the  mutiny  of  several  of  the  officers 
of  the  regiment  of  the  "Four  Military  Orders,"  that  had  before  given 
many  unequivocal  proofs  of  disaffection  and  insubordination,  which 
was  supposed  to  extend  to  the  soldiers  of  that  corps,  and  by  the  depar 
ture  of  a  convoy  for  Acapulco,  with  near  a  million  of  dollars,  that 
was  intended  to  be  embarked  in  a  ship  bound  to  Manilla,  that  he  re 
solved  on  detaining.  He  immediately,  therefore,  concerted  his  mea 
sures  with  the  clergy  and  friars,  and,  with  the  specious  pretext  of  up 
holding  them  in  their  privileges  and  immunities,  secured  their  favor 
and  protection.  He  also  communicated  his  design  to  such  of  the  go- 
\ernors  of  the  provinces  as  he  thought  likely  to  aid  him  in  the  exe 
cution  of  it,  and,  on  his  arrival  in  Yguala,  persuaded  a  great  part  of 
the  troops  under  his  command  to  join  him  in  the  undertaking,  in  the 
belief  that  the  government  secretly  favored  it,  a  circumstance  that 
they  at  first  readily  gave  credit  to  from  their  knowledge  of  the  anti- 
constitutional  sentiments  of  its  leading  members,  but  in  which  they 
were  soon  after  undeceived,  and,  in  consequence,  not  more  than  a 
thousand  remained  faithful  of  those'  that  espoused  his  party.  The 
<lesign  was  also  made  known  to  Guerrero,  Asensiu,  and  Bradburn, 
who  pledged  themselves  to  support  him  in  the  enterprise,  and,  thus 
prepared,  he  openly  declared  the  independence  of  the  kingdom,  swear 
ing  it  in  the  most  solemn  manner  at  the  head  of  his  army,  in  the  said 
town  of  Yguala,  on  the  24th  day  of  February  last,  seizing,  at  the 
same  time,  and  appropriating  to  the  use  of  the  nation,  the  treasure 
destined  for  the  Manilla  ship. 

His  next  step  was  to  form  a  plan  for  the  installation  of  the  new 
government,  a  copy  of  which  I  enclose,  and  to  give  to  his  army  the 
style  and  title  of  the  "Army  of  the  three  Guarantees,"  from  the  pro 
tection  it  was  to  afford  to  the  Catholic  religion,  to  the  independence  of 
the  kingdom,  and  to  the  indissoluble  union  between  the  Europeans 
and  Americans.  A  copy  of  the  plan  was  immediately  sent  by  him  to 
the  Viceroy,  with  a  letter,  stating  all  that  had  passed,  explaining  his 
motives  for  having  formed  and  adopted  the  new  system,  inviting  him 
and  the  government  to  aid  and  assist  in  its  establishment,  and,  final 
ly,  naming  the  said  Viceroy,  the  "  Condede  Cortina,"  arid  the  Pre 
sident  of  the  Royal  Audience,  the  members  that  were  to  compose  the 
regency,  reserving  to  himself  the  command  that  he  had  assumed  of 
the  national  army. 

The  Viceroy,  had  he  been  left  to  himself,  would,  I  believe,  have 


[  90  ]  55 

assented  to  the  proposal,  from  the  vehement  desire  he  has  ever  mani 
fested  to  avoid  the  effusion  of  blood,  and  the  miseries  concomitant  to 
a  renewal  of  the  war,  as  well  as  from  the  conviction  that  the  plan 
and  policy  adopted  by  Yturbide  could  not  fail  to  gain  him  innumera 
ble  friends,  arsd  to  enable  him,  finally,  to  accomplish  his  views.  It 
was  necessary ,  however,  to  call  to  his  counsel  the  members  of  the 
various  tribunals  of  which  the  government  was  composed,  as  well  as 
the  principal  military  officers,  all  of  whom,  counting  on  the  versatility 
that  had  been  conspicuous  in  the  American  character  up  to  that  pe 
riod,  resolved,  unanimously,  to  maintain  the  then  existing  govern 
ment,  in  the  belief  that  the  few  troops  that  had  adhered  to  Iturbide, 
would  leave  him  the  instant  the  Royal  army  should  approach  Yguala. 

The  old  favorite  system  of  blood  and  murder  was  also  upheld,  bat 
to  this  the  Viceroy  would  not  consent,  and  an  amnesty  was  offered  to 
all,  not  excepting  Iturbide.  The  Field  Marshal  Linan  was  na  i*'d 
commander  in  chief,  and  a  numerous  staff  and  army  was  committed 
to  his  charge.  He  was,  however,  so  slow  in  his  motions,  that  a  de 
tachment  of  troops,  sent  by  Iturbide,  had  taken  possession  of  the  town 
and  castle  of  Acapulco,  and  he  himself,  with  the  remainder,  were  on 
march  in  the  direction  of  Valladolid,  before  the  army  of  Linan  moved 
from  its  cantonment  in  the  neighborhood  of  this  city. 

The  cry  of  independence  was  no  sooner  raised  in  Yguala  than  it 
spread  in  all  parts,  and  an  army  was  formed  in  the  prov  inces  of  Puebla 
and  Vera  Cruz,  by  the  Colonels  Herj'era,  Bravo,  and  Santana,  that 
took  possession  of  the  cities  of  Orizaba,  Cordova,  and  Jalapa,  which 
was  a  most  important  conquest,  the  two  former  being  the  depots  of  the 
I  government  tobacco,  of  which  a  prodigious  quantity  fell  into  the  hands 
i  of  the  Independents,  with  a  large  sum  in  specie;  circumstances  that 
were  attended  with  the  double  advantage  of  being  a  powerful  succor 
to  them,  and  an  i-reparable  loss  to  the  government,  who  counted  on 
the  remission  to,  and  sale  of,  the  tobacco  in  Mexico,  as  its  principal 
means  of  supporting  the  war. 

In  this  state  of  things,  it  was  resolved  to  divide  the  government 
army  into  three  divisions;  one  of  which,  under  the  command  of  Col. 
M argues,  was  to  retake  Acapulco;  another,  commanded  by  Colonet 
Hebia,  to  march  against  the  cities  of  Orizaba,  Cordova,  and  Jalapa; 
and  the  third  to  return  for  the  defence  of  this  capital,  on  the  suppo 
sition  that  Iturbide  might  suddenly  change  his  route  and  take  the 
city  by  surprize.  It,  however,  soon  appeared  that  his  intention  was 
very  different,  and  that  his  object  was  to  pass  Valladolid  and  unite 
with  a  Col.  Bustamente,  of  San  Luis  Potosi,  who  had  risen  at  this 
critical  period,  and  proceeded  against  the  city  of  Guanajuato  with  a 
considerable  pai  t  of  his  regiment  of  dragoons,  declaring  independence 
in  all  the  cities  and  towns  in  the  Bajio,  the  inhabitants  of  which  re 
ceived  him  with  open  arms.  On  arriving  at  Guanajuato,  it  also  sur 
rendered  to  him,  and,  as  he  was  joined  by  the  garrisons  of  the  several 
places  he  passed  through.  Iturbide,  on  meeting  him,  found  himself  af 
the  head  of  an  army  of  five  thousand  men,  including  the  divisions  of 
Col.  Barragan,  and  Major  Parres,  that  left  Valladolid  with  what 


56  [  90  ] 

troops  they  could  seduce,  as  soon  as  they  knew  of  his  intention  to 
pass  that  way.  With  this  respectable  force  it  was  determined  to 
attack  that  city,  which  was  the  best  fortified  of  any  in  the  kingdom, 
and  had  a  garrison  of  seventeen  hundred  men.  It  however  made  no 
defence,  and  its  commandant,  Col.  Quintanar,  and  all  but  about  600 
of  the  troops,  went  over  to  Iturbide. 

At  Guanajuato,  which  is  one  of  the  richest  minerals  in  the  king 
dom,  a  mint  was  established,  that  proved  afterwards  very  servicea 
ble  to  the  Independents,  and  injurious  to  the  royal  party,  the  silver 
from  all  the  neighboring  mines  taking  the  direction  of  that  city,  in 
stead  of  Mexico. 

Acaptilco  remained  but  a  short  time  in  possession  of  the  Inde 
pendents,  the  castle  having  capitulated  before  the  arrival  of  the  divi 
sion  of  Colonel  Margues,  to  two  Spanish  frigates  that  accidentally 
arrived  there  from  Panama.  San  Juan  del  Rio,  a  fortified  town  be 
tween  this  city  and  Quiritaro,  was  next  invested;  the  siege,  however, 
lasted  but  a  few  days,  the  greater  part  of  the  garrison,  being  Ameri 
cans,  deserted,  and  joined  the  Independents,  obliging  the  few  that 
remained  to  capitulate. 

The  division  of  Col.  Hebia  that  had  marched,  as  before  stated, 
against  the  cities  of  Orizaba,  Cordova,  and  Jalapa,  surprised  Col. 
Bravo,  with  about  fifteen  hundred  Independents,  in  the  town  of  Te- 
peaca,  about  nine  leagues  from  Puebla,  who,  unprepared  for  action, 
retired  with  his  troops  to  a  large  convent  of  the  order  of  San  Fran 
cisco,  that  was  constructed  by  Hernan  Cortez,  soon  after  the  con 
quest,  in  the  form  of  a  fortress,  to  serve  as  a  place  of  refuge  for  him 
and  his  followers,  in  the  event  of  any  sudden  emergency.  Hebia  had 
with  him  his  own  regiment  of  "  Castile,"  and  other  European  troops, 
that  equalled  in  number  those  of  Bravo;  a  field  piece  was,  however, 
necessary  to  make  a  breach  in  the  wall  of  the  convent,  and  to  obtain 
this,  he  sent  immediately  to  Puebla,  asking,  at  the  same  time,  for  a 
reinforcement  of  five  hundred  men,  that  the  success  of  the  action 
might  be  placed  beyond  all  doubt.  Bravo,  suspectin<^nis  intention, 
resolved  on  a  sortie,  with  the  determination  to  cut  his  way  and  es 
cape,  as  Iturbide  had  given  positive  orders  to  all  his  officers  to  avoid 
the  effusion  of  blood,  and  to  act  solely  on  the  defensive,  from  the 
double  motive  of  conciliating  the  enemy  and  avoiding  the  butchery  of 
his  countrymen;  sensible  where  one  European  should  be  killed  four 
or  five  Americans  would  fall,  the  number  of  the  latter  in  the  king's 
service  exceeding  greatly  that  of  the  former.  In  the  first  and  second 
attempts  he  made,  he  was  unsuccessful;  the  third,  however,  proved 
more  fortunate,  and  he  got  off  with  the  loss  of  fifty  or  sixty  men, 
killing  as  many  of  those  that  were  opposed  to  him. 

This  was  the  first  action  that  had  occurred,  and  the  result  proved 
highly  important  to  the  Independent  cause;  the  gallant  conduct  of 
their  troops,  inspiring  an  universal  confidence,  animating  their  com 
panions  in  arms  throughout  the  kingdom  to  a  singular  and  unexpect 
ed  degree,  and  demonstrating  to  the  political  and  military  officers  of 
the  government  of  Mexico,  that  they  had  to  contend  with  a  brave  and 


[  90  ]  57 

Disappointed  and  chagrined  at  the  result  of  the  action,  and  unde 
ceived  as  to  the  sort  of  troops  he  had  to  deal  with,  Hebia  proceeded 
on  his  march  to  Cordova,  where  he  was  killed  in  the  first  assault, 
arid  his  army  obliged  to  retire  from  the  siege  by  Colonel  Herrera, 
and  the  valiant  troops  that  defended  the  city.  While  these  scenes  of 
glory  were  achieving  in  the  provinces  of  Pucbla  and  Vera  Cruz,  the 
siege  of  the  city  of  Queretaro,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  in  the  king 
dom,  andjthc  third  in  rank,  as  respects  size,  opulence,  and  commerce, 
was  pushed  with  much  vigor  by  Iturbide  in  person.  Its  garrison 
was  composed  of  nine  hundred  Europeans,  drafted  from  various  re 
giments,  and  about  six  hundred  Americans,  all  under  the  command  of 
Brigadier  General  Loaces,  a  native  of  the  kingdom  of  Peru,  colonel 
of  the  regiment  of  Zaragoza,  and  a  brave  and  experienced  officer. 
He  had  determined  to  make  a  vigorous  arid  desperate  defence,  and  as 
the  fate  of  the  kingdom  depended  in  a  great  measure  on  that  of  this 
city,  the  government  resolved  to  abandon  that  of  San  Luis  Potosi, 
and  to  succor  Queretaro  with  the  European  regiment  of  Zamorathat 
was  stationed  there.  The  order  to  this  effect  was  no  sooner  des 
patched,  than  Iturbide  knew  of  it,  and  concerted  measures  to  sur 
prize  the  troops  on  their  march,  which  were  so  well  executed,  that 
they  found  themselves  surrounded  when  they  least  expected  it,  by  a 
body  of  three  times  their  number,  and  compelled  to  surrender  at  dis 
cretion.  This  happy  occurrence  for  the  Independents  was  a  death 
blow  to  the  government,  who  found  itself  at  once  deprived  of  the 
important  capital  and  province  of  San  Luis  Potosi,  that  were  imme 
diately  occupied  by  the  Independents,  and  without  the  means  of  con 
tributing  to  the  relief  of  Queretaro,  which  capitulated  shortly  after, 
the  American  part  of  the  garrison  joining  Iturbide,  as  usual,  and  the 
Europeans  going  on  parole  to  Celaya,  until  such  time  as  they  could 
be  transported  to  the  Havanna.  These  troops,  to  their  eternal  dis 
grace,  proposed  afterwards  to  their  colonel  to  rise  and  march  to 
Mexico;  but  he,  like  a  man  of  honor,  sent  the  letter  to  Iturbide,  who 
immediately  ordered  them  to  be  disarmed  and  dispersed. 

The  next  action  of  any  importance  was  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Toluca,  14  leagues  from  the  city,  between  the  regiment  of  Fernan 
do  7th,  commanded  by  Colonel  Castillo,  and  a  body  of  the  Indepen 
dents  of  an  equal  number,  under  the  orders  of  Colonel  Filisola, 
which  was  indecisive,  both  parties  claiming  the  victory,  after  an 
obstinate  battle  in  which  more  than  two  hundred  were  left  dead  on 
the  field,  and  the  Independents  in  possession  of  two  cannon  that  their 
opponents  were  obliged  to  abandon. 

At  this  period,  General  Negrete,  commander  of  the  troops  in  the 
province  of  Guadalaxara,  rose  with  the  whole  of  his  army,  obliged 
the  Commandant  General  Don  Jose  de  la  Cruz,  to  fly  from  the  capi^ 
tal  of  that  name,  where,  and  in  all  other  parts  of  the  province,  in 
dependence  \vas  sworn;  the  commerce  of  the  port  of  San  Bias  was 
also  declared  free  to  all  nations.  Cruz  took  the  road  leading  to  the 
internal  provinces,  with  the  intention,  it  was  said,  of  uniting  with 
Brigadier  Don  Joaquin  Arredondo,  commandant  general  of  the  east- 
8 


58  ['  90   ] 

ern  provinces,  of  raising  an  army  in  union  with  linn,  and  of  return 
ing,  cither  to  reconquer  his  own  province,  or  to  the  aid  of  that  of 
Mexico.  Arredondo  had,  however,  already  caused  independence  to 
be  sworn  throughout  his  district,  and  on  hearing  this,  Cruz  made  a 
halt  in  the  city  of  Zacatecas,  but,  being  pursued  by  Negrete,  fled  to 
Durango,  the  capital  of  the  province  of  New  Biscay,  carrying  with 
him  a  large  sum  in  specie,  that  he  found  in  the  treasury  at  Zacate 
cas,  \vhicli  city  soon  after  surrendered  to  a  detachment  that  was  sent 
against  it  by  the  commandant  of  San  Luis  Potosi. 

On  the  death  of  Hebia,  the  command  of  the  regiment  of  Castile 
devolved  on  Lieut.  Colonel  Luna,  who  on  the  fall  of  Queretaro  was 
ordered  to  return  to  Mexico  hy  forced  marches,  in  the  expectation 
that  Yturbide  would  now  attack  the  capital;  similar  orders  were  also 
sent  to  Colonel  M argues,  in  whose  division  was  a  principal  part  of 
the  insubordinate  regiment  of  the  "four  military  orders."  The  male 
inhabitants  of  Mexico,  from  the  age  of  16  to  50,  were  also  ordered  to 
enrol  themselves  in  the  miiitia,  without  exception  or  distinction  of 
persons,  and  every  possible  precaution  taken  to  prevent  a  surprize, 
and  maintain  the  city  until  such  time  as  an  answer  should  be  receiv 
ed  to  dispatches  that  had  been  sent  to  Spain,  or  troops  should  arrive 
that  were  expected  from  the  Havanna. 

All  this,  however,  was  not  sufficient  to  allay  the  rancor  that  a 
certain  part  of  the  community  had  conceived  against  the  Vice  Roy, 
nor  to  convince  them  of  his  upright  intentions,  or  extinguish  the  sparks 
of  insubordination  I  have  already  hinted  at  in  some  of  the  European 
troops,  which,  from  the  first,  was  more  immediately  directed  at  his  per 
son  than  at  the  government.  A  report  was  therefore  industriously  cir 
culated  that  he  was  in  secret  correspondence  with  Iturbide,  and  that 
there  was  no  real  intention  to  defend  the  city,  notwithstanding  the 
preparations  that  were  ostensibly  making  for  its  protection:  the  whole 
a  prelude  to  the  scandalous  revolution  of  the  5th  of  July,  which  had 
for  its  object  the  arrest  of  that  most  excellent  man,  and,  without 
'doubt  was  accomplished  by  dint  of  money  paid  by  the  merchants  to  the 
oiliccrs  that  took  par-tin  the  affray,  who  had  the  temerity  to  secure 
the  persons  of  theirjcolonels,  and  other  principal  military  men  opposed 
to  their  project,  to  assault  the  palace  and  make  a  prisoner  of  the  Vice 
Roy,  and  afterwards  the  audacity  to  place  against  its  gates,  and  the 
corners  of  the  principal  streets,  for  the  information  of  the  public, 
who  were  HO  many  witnesses  of  their  atrocity,  a  paper,  setting  forth 
that  he  had  of  his  own  accord,  and  at  the  respectful  petition  of  the 
officers  of  the  European  regiments,  delivered  the  political  and  mili 
tary  command  of  the  kingdom  to  Field  Marshal  Don  Francisco  No 
vella,  the  person  they  had  pitched  upon  as  the  leader  of  the  faction. 

This  gentleman  had  under  his  command  the  various  corps  of  artil 
lery  and  engineers  that  existed  in  the  kingdom;  and  as  his  education 
and  occupation  until  now  had  been  altogether  confined  to  that  line, 
you  will  readily  imagine  him  entirely  unfit  for  the  discharge  of  the 
arduous  and  complicated  duties  of  Vice  Roy  of  these  extensive  pro 
vinces. 


[  90  ]  59 

Indeed,  he  himself  was  sensible  of  his  incompetence,  and  very 
prudently  declined  the  offer;  as  unsuitable,  however,  as  he  was,  there 
was  no  other  person  they  could  avail  themselves  of  that  was  less  so. 
and  the  same  necessity  that  compelled  them  to  name  him,  obliged  him 
to  accept  the  appointment.  From  a  government  constituted  by  the 
insubordination  of  a  few  soldiers  that  had  the  vanity  to  compare 
their  iniquitous  conduct  with  the  noble  enthusiasm  of  the  .Spanish 
nation,  which,  tired  of  obeying  tyrants  that  abused  the  goodness  of 
their  monarch,  rose  in  amass  to  recover  the  rights  of  which  they  had 
unjustly  been  deprived,  no  good  was  to  be  expected,  and  we  see  it 
employed  from  its  very  commencement  in  destroying  the  constitution 
al  regimen,  of  which  it  did  not  leave  a  vestige,  and  in  substituting  the 
most  arbitrary  and  tyrannical  system  that  it  is  possible  to  imagine,  all  of 
whichwas  fomented  and  sanctioned  by  a  body  that  Novella  had  crea 
ted  with  the  denomination  of  the  "  Junta  Consultiva,"  composed  of  a 
few  individuals  who  had  contributed  with  their  money  to  place  the 
power  in  his  hands,  \vere  furious  at  seeing  approah  the  expiratjon  of 
their  authority,  and  with  sentiments  diametrically  opposed  to  the  sys 
tem  of  liberality  and  philanthropy  at  present  predominant. 

At  the  time  these  scenes  of  horror  were  transacting  in  the  capital, 
and  to  which  I  myself  had  like  to  have  been  a  victim,  notwithstand 
ing  the  great  prudence  I  observed  in  my  deportment,  a  bloody  occur 
rence  took  place  in  Vera  Cruz,  in  consequence  of  the  storm  of  that 
city  by  a  party  of  troops  commanded  by  an  inconsiderate  but  brave 
young  officer,  named  Santana,  who  scaled  the  walls  and  got  complete 
possession  of  the  town,  but  was  afterwards  obliged  to  retire  with 
great  loss,  his  soldiers  having  abandoned  their  arms  with  a  view  to 
plunder,  and  the  inhabitants  setting  upon  them  when  in  that  defence 
less  state. 

The  city  of  Puebla  delos  Angeles,  the  largest  in  the  kingdom  ex 
cept  Mexico,  next  attracted  the  attention  of  General  Iturbide,  in 
front  of  which  was  a  large  army  of  independents,  composed  of  the  divi 
sions  of  the  Conde  de  la  Cadena,  Herrera,  Bravo,  Filisola,  and  others, 
that  only  awaited  the  orders  of  their  general  to  make  the  attack,  and  to 
prevent  which  and  the  loss  of  many  valuable  lives,  he  went  in  person, 
preferring  in  all  cases  the  plan  he  had  from  the4irst  adopted  of  redu 
cing  his  enemies  by  means  of  persuasion  and  negotiation  rather  than 
by  force  of  arms.  The  fate  of  Puebla  was  all-important  to  the  go 
vernment  in  the  critical  situation  in  which  it  found  itself,  being  one  of 
the  chain  of  fortified  towns  that  connect  Mexico  with  Vera  Cruz,  to 
which  port  it  had  resolved  to  retire  with  the  European  part  of  the 
army  and  inhabitants,  in  the  event  of  not  being  able  to  sustain  itself 
in  the  capital.  Puebla  was,  therefore,  well  garrisoned,  served  with 
an  excellent  park  of  artillery,  and  defended  with  many  cannon  of  a 
large  calibre,  so  that  its  commander  in  chief,  Brigadier  Don  Ciriaco 
Llano,  the  Marquis  de  Vivanco,  and  other  experienced  officers  sta 
tioned  there,  had,  until  the  last,  sanguine  hopes  of  being  able  to  de 
fend  it.  Iturbide,  however,  called  to  his  assistance  a  part  of  the  ar- 


60  C  90  3 

my  be  had  left  in  Queretaro,  and  surrounded  the  city  with  so  many 
troops  that  resistance  would  have  been  nothing  short  of  an  act  of 
madness;  it  therefore  capitulated. 

On  the  surrender  of  Puebla,  the  army  of  Iturbide,  which  had  now 
augmented  to  the  number  of  about  eighteen  thousand,  and  which  was 
composed  entirely  of  veteran  troops  that  had  been  disciplined  in  the 
King's  service,  and  had  gone  over  to  him  clandestinely,  or  joined 
him  on  the  fall  of  the  various  cities  he  had  conquered,  received  orders 
to  march  in  separate  columns  to  different  towns  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  Mexico,  with  the  intention  of  manifesting  to  the  government  of 
that  city  the  folly  of  any  further  resistance.  It  was,  however,  en 
tirely  in  vain  that  the  general  had  adopted  this  prudent  measure,  in 
vain  that  one  or  two  praiseworthy  citizens  had  ventured  to  reason 
on  the  subject  with  Sen.  Novella,  and  in  vain  that  he  was  assured  he 
could  not  rely  on  more  than  one  third  part  of  the  troops  that  compos 
ed  the  garrison;  war!  war!  was  the  cry  of  him  and  his  junta  con- 
sultiya,  and  the  motto  they  wore  on  their  hats  and  that  was  worn  by 
all  tneir  officers  and  troops  was  "  Vivir  y  morir  feiles  y  utiles." 

Iturbide,  after  having  rested  a  few  days  in  Puebla,  and  partaken 
of  the  effusion  of  gratitude  manifested  towards  him  by  the  good 
people  of  that  city,  was  on  the  point  of  leaving  it,  with  the  intention  of 
fixing  his  head  quarters  near  the  town  of  Chalco,  and  directing  from 
thence  the  attack  that  was  to  have  been  made  on  Mexico,  when  he 
received  a  letter  from  Lieutenant  General  Don  Juan  O'Donoju, 
who  had  recently  arrived  at  Vera  Cruz,  informing  him  that  he  had 
been  named  by  the  King  of  Spain  Captain  General  and  Political 
Chief  of  the  Kingdom,  and  had  accepted  the  appointment  at  the  so 
licitation  of  his  friends,  the  Representatives  of  America  in  the  Cortes 
of  Spain,  that  he  had  risked  his  health  and  life,  and  sacrificed  his 
convenience,  at  a  period  when  he  intended  to  retire  from  the  public 
service,  without  any  other  desire  than  that  of  acquiring  the  love  arid 
esteem  of  the  people  of  New  Spain,  and  without  other  sentiments  than 
those  of  tranquillizing  the  disastrous  inquietude  that  reigned  in  the 
Kingdom;  not  by  consolidating  or  perpetuating  the  despotism  that 
existed,  or  prolonging  the  colonial  dependence,  nor  falling  into  the 
errors  or  imitating  the  defects  of  many  of  his  predecessors,  in  sup 
porting  a  system  of  government,  the  tyranny  and  injustice  of  which 
arose  from  the  barbarity  of  the  age  in  which  it  was  established,  but 
by  reforming  the  ideas  of  the  misled,  calming  the  passions  of  the 
exasperated,  and  pointing  out  to  the  people  generally  the  mode  of  ob 
taining  with  security,  and  without  the  horrible  sacrifice  they  were 
making,  the  happiness  which  the  illustration  of  the  era  in  which  they 
lived,  had  induced  them  to  seek  after,  arid  which  no  rational  person 
could  disapprove;  he  also  required  Iturbide  to  appoint  a  place  at 
which  they  could  have  an  interview,  and  realize  the  sincere  and  ar 
dent  desire  he  had  to  prevent  the  evils  and  misfortunes  inseparable  to 
a  state  of  hostility,  until  such  time  as  the  treaty  they  might  conclude, 
founded  on  the  basis  of  the  plan  published  in  Yguafa,  should  be  rati 
fied  by  the  King  and  Cortes'. 


[  90  ]  61 

"What  a  blow  was  this  to  the  existing  government  of  Mexico,  and 
to  those  that  preceded  it  since  the  year  1810;  what  a  contrast  to  their 
iniquitous  and  shameful  mode  of  proceeding!  The  wise  and  beneficent 
O'Uonoju,  reading  the  public  papers  of  the  Independents,  applaud 
ing  the  enterprize  of  their  hero  Iturbide,  confirming  his  ideas,  com 
mending  his  virtues,  and  desiring  his  friendship,  as  he  does  in  the 
conclusion  of  his  letter:  while  the  intrusive  Novella  and  his  Junta 
Consultiva,  in  imitation  of  their  barbarous  predecessors  Vanegas  and 
Calleja,  were  persecuting  with  unrelenting  fury,  and  almost  to  death 
itself,  those  that  communicated  with  the  Independents,  or  in  whose 
possession  should  be  found  any  of  their  seditious  writings;  proscribing 
the  chiefs  of  the  revolution,  and  heaping  upon  them  every  species  of 
reproach  and  ignominy! 

But  the  scene  had  changed,  the  star  of  liberty  that  rose  in  our  own 
country  had  happily  spread  its  influence  in  the  more  eastern  and  west 
ern  hemispheres,  and  displayed  to  the  world  the  criminal  conduct  of 
the  Caligulas  and  Neros  that  had  for  such  a  length  of  time  dishonor 
ed  Spain  and  abused  human  nature. 

This  letter  of  O'Donojti,  with  another  that  he  wrote  to  Sor.  Novel 
la,  were  sent  by  Iturbide  to  the  Mexican  government,  accompanied 
with  a  proposal  for  the  suspension  of  arms  until  such  times  as  the  defi 
nitive  treaty  should  be  signed  in  Cordova,  the  city  named  by  Iturbide 
as  the  point  of  conference.  Novella  would,  however,  hear  to  nothing 
of  the  sort,  and  the  letters  were  declared  spurious,  notwithstanding 
that  Sor.  Alcocer,  a  venerable  curate  of  this  city,  who  had  been  inti 
mately  acquainted  with  O'Donoju  in  Spain,  proved  to  the  junta  the 
identity  of  the  signatures,  by  shewing  others  that  he  had  in  his  pos 
session;  which  contumacy  on  the  part  of  Novella,  exasperated  Itur 
bide  so  much  that  tie  set  off  for  Cordova,  leaving  orders  with  his 
generals  for  the  immediate  occupation  of  the  towns  of  Tacuba,  Tacu- 
baya,  Azcapuzalco,  and  Guadalupe,  neither  of  which  were  distant 
more  than  half  a  league  from  Mexico,  and  all  of  them  in  possession 
of  the  .European  troops. 

This  was  an  unexpected  circumstance  to  Novella  and  the  junta, 
who  had  the  folly  and  vanity  to  suppose  they  could  frighten  the  Inde 
pendents  from  the  execution  of  their  plan  by  means  of  the  silly  pro 
clamations  they  almost  daily  issued,  in  which  they  affected  to  despise 
their  number,  challenged  them  openly  to  commence  the  attack,  and 
declared  the  generals  Luaces  and  Llano  traitors  to  their  king  and 
country  for  having  surrendered  the  cities  of  Queretaro  and  Puebla. 
The  heroes  of  Tepeaca,  Cordova,  and  Toluca,  were,  however,  not  so 
easily  scared,  and  a  column  of  fifteen  hundred  men  sent  by  Colonel 
Bustamante  against  Azcapuzalco,  presented  to  the  inhabitants  of 
Mexico  the  sight  of  a  most  bloody  and  desperate  action,  that  took 
place  between  them  and  an  equal  number  of  the  regiments  of  Castile 
and  Military  Orders  that  composed  the  garrison  of  Azcapuzalco,  the 
result  of  which  was  at  least  six  hundred  killed  and  wounded,  and 
the  abandonment  of  the  town  by  the  Europeans:  a  few  days  after  an 
attempt  was  made  to  dislodge  the  Europeans  that  were  stationed  IR 


62  [  90  ] 

Guadalupe,  by  means  of  cannon  placed  on  a  neighbouring  hill,  and 
\vhile  this  operation  was  carrying  on  by  a  part  of  the  Independents, 
and  others  were  taking  possession  of  Tacuba  and  Tacubaya,  from  both 
of  which  towns  the  Europeans  had  retired,  an  aid  de  camp  arrived  with 
a  copy  of  the  treaty  of  Cordova,  concluded  between  General  O'Do- 
ju  and  Iturbide,  arid  an  order  from  the  former  to  Sor.  Novella,  com 
manding  him  to  obey  him  as  captain  general  of  the  kingdom,  to  cause 
him  to  be  recognized  as  such  by  the  troops,  to  cease  all  hostilities 
from  the  instant  he  should  receive  the  order,  and  to  adopt  measures 
for  the  evacuation  of  the  city.  This  peremptory  mandate  on  one 
side,  and  the  near  approach  of  the  Independents  on  the  other,  plac 
ed  Novella,  the  junta,  and  their  European  troops,  in  an  awkward 
predicament,  inasmuch  as  if  they  obeyed  the  order,  they  would  be 
subject  to  arrest  and  trial  for  the  scandalous  imprisonment  of  the 
late  viceroy,  and  if  they  refused  compliance,  to  be  treated  as  rebels 
against  the  king's  authority;  their  object  therefore,  was  to  shelter 
themselves  from  the  punishment  they  had  justly  deserved  in  the  best 
manner  they  could.  And,  with  this  view,  although  they  were  per 
fectly  convinced  of  the  presence  of  O'Donoju  in  the  kingdom,  and  of 
the  reality  of  the  treaty  signed  in  Cordova*  they  nevertheless  affected 
to  doubt  the  truth  of  one  and  the  other,  alleging  that  all  might  be 
a  stratagem  of  Iturbide,  and  on  this  frivolous  pretext  refused  to  eva 
cuate  the  city.  On  the  deposition  of  the  Conde  del  Venadito,  the 
Junta  Provincial,  Ayuntamunto,  and  other  bodies  corporate,  hesi 
tated  to  acknowledge  the  authority  of  Novella,  but  were  obliged  to 
do  so  eventually,  from  the  fear  of  the  bayonets  he  had  at  his  command. 

Now,  however,  that  they  were  surrounded  by  the  independents  and 
backed  by  O'Donoju,  they  openly  protested  againt  his  proceedings, 
and,  in  consequence,  he  was  obliged  to  ask  for  an  armistice,  and 
compelled  to  send  one  of  the  junta  consultiva  to  Puebla  to  ascertain, 
as  he  said,  the  identity  of  the  captain  general.  This  envoy,  who  had 
hitherto  been  one  of  the  most  strenuous  supporters  of  the  measures  of 
Novella,  and  one  of  the  most  active  members  of  the  junta,  received 
such  a  fright  from  the  lecture  O'Donoju  gave  him,  that  he  imme 
diately  returned,  explained  folly  to  Novella  all  that  had  passed,  and 
forever  afterwards  ceased  to  meddle  in  the  matters  at  issue.  Novella 
was  also  inclined  to  succumb,  and  would  have  renounced  his  employ, 
had  it  not  been  for  fear  of  the  troops,  he  having  lost  all  authority, 
and  they  having  usurped  the  command,  so  that  the  city  was  in  the 
utmost  anarchy  and  confusion,  and  dreading  at  every  instant  a  gene 
ral  massacre  and  pillage,  with  which  it  had  been  threatened  daily  for 
near  a  month,  and  which  would  most  assuredly  have  succeeded,  had 
it  not  been  for  the  proximity  and  number  of  the  independent  army, 
that  cut  off  all  possibility  of  escape  for  the  European  troops,  whose 
idea  was  to  commit  all  sorts  of  enormity,  rob  what  they  could,  and 
take  the  road  for  Vera  Cruz. 

Things  had  got  to  that  pass,  that  it  was  impossible  to  confide  in  a 
servant,  and  dangerous  to  do  so  to  a  friend,  every  thing  like  social 
intercourse  was  at  an  end,  those  that  could  with  any  sort  of  conve- 


[  90  ]  63 

uience  leave  tfae  city  fled,  and  those  that  were  obliged  to  remain, 
sought  security  in  their  houses,  so  that,  in  this  once  populous  metro 
polis,  there  was  scarce  a  soul  to  he  seen.  In  this  state  of  things  the 
generals  O'Donoju  and  Iturbide,  arrived  at  Tacuhaya,  and  the  for 
mer  had  an  interview  with  Sor.  Novella,  in  the  course  of  which  lie- 
gave  him  to  understand  the  impropriety  of  his  conduct  in  resisting 
the  legitimate  authority  as  long  as  he  did,  the  impossibility  of  de 
fending  the  city,  and  the  certainty  of  the  massacre  of  the  Europeans, 
should  it  be  taken  by  assault;  remonstrated  with  him  respecting  the 
insubordination  of  the  troops,  pointed  out  to  him  the  illegality  of  their 
conduct,  and  enjoined  him  to  prevent  the  effusion  of  blood,  by  exer 
cising  the  little  influence  he  had  with  the  subaltern  otticers  and  sol 
diers,  in  the  understanding  that  he  would  not  take  upon  him  to  scru 
tinize  their  conduct  in  the  arrest  of  the  late  vice  roy,  but  leave  them 
to  exculpate  themselves  in  the  best^way  they  could  on  arriving  in 
Spain.  The  following  day  news  was  received  of  the  surrender  of  the 
city  Durango,  and  General  Cruz,  to  General  Negrete,  after  an  ob 
stinate  resistance,  in  the  course  of  which  many  lives  were  lost,  and 
the  declaration  of  independence  in  the  western  internal  provinces, 
under  the  command  of  field  marshal  Alexo  Garcia  Conde,  so  that  if 
the  soldiers  of  Novella  had  before  any  hope,  it  now  entirely  disap 
peared,  and,  in  order  to  avoid  a  disgraceful  capitulation,  were 
obliged  to  acknowledge  the  supremacy  of  general  O'Donoju,  obey 
his  orders  by  evacuating  the  city  and  march  to  that  of  Toluca,  there 
to  wait  until  it  was  convenient  for  them  to  embark. 

To  complete  the  independence  of  the  kingdom  there  was  now  want 
ing  the  declaration  of  the  province  of  Merida  de  Yucatan,  which  fol 
lowed  almost  immediately  the  surrender  of  Acapulco,  the  castle  of 
Perote  and  Vera  Cruz,  the  two  former  of  which  capitulated  soon  af 
ter,  and  the  latter  has  without  doubt  ere  this  followed  their  example, 
advice  having  been  received  yesterday  by  the  government  that  it  was 
on  the  eve  of  surrendering.  The  province  of  Guatemala,  which  has 
always  been  a  separate  vice  royalty  from  that  of  Mexico,  was  also 
sensible  of  the  general  impulse,  and  desirous  of  becoming  an  inte 
gral  part  of  the  Mexican  empire,  has  likewise  sworn  independence, 
which,  without  doubt,  will  extend  to  its  neighboring  provinces,  Hon 
duras,  Nicaragua,  Costa  Pica  and  Veragua,  so  that  we  may  from 
this  instant  consider  North  America,  with  the  exception  of  Canada, 
as  divided  into  two  grand  and  important  commonwealths,  that  may, 
with  the  aid  of  those  that  are  forming  in  South  America,  be  able,  in 
the  course  of  time,  to  give  the  law  to  the  opposite  continent. 

I  am  very  far  from  believing  myself  possessed  of  the  qualities  ne 
cessary  to  treat  with  the  energy  and  exactness  that  it  merits,  a  subject 
of  the  importance  of  that  on  which  I  have  ventured  to  write,  and  cer 
tainly  should  not  have  had  the  temerity  to  have  touched  upon  it,  had 
it  not  been  for  the  particular  situation  in  which  I  found  myself,  an 
eye  witness  of  all  that  passed,  and  from  the  conviction  I  have  ever 
been  under,  that  each  individual  is  bound  to  contribute  towards  the 
good  of  his  country  to  the  utmost  of  his  ability,  be  it  great  or  small: 


6>4  [  90  ] 

With  this  view,  therefore,  I  shall,  now  that  I  have  finished  my  narra 
tive,  take  the  liberty  to  add  a  few  remarks,  and  to  say  in  the  first 
place,  that  the  revolution  which  I  have  attempted  to  describe,  is  not 
one  of  those  that  have  been  accomplished  by  means  of  unbridled  pas 
sions,  cruelty,  rancour,  or  revenge,  but,  on  the  contrary,  has,  from  its 
commencement,  been  accompanied  with  brotherly  love,  patriotism, 
disinterestedness,  truth  and  good  faith,  so  that  the  more  I  reflect  on  its 
origin  and  progress,  the  more  is  my  admiration  excited,  and  the  more 
am  I  tempted  to  exclaim,  that  America  has  produced  two  of  the 
greatest  heroes  that  ever  existed,  Washington  and  Iturbide.  Secondly, 
that  the  new  government  is  established  on  a  sure  and  solid  founda 
tion,  the  people  being  highly  delighted  with  it,  and  the  subordinate 
chiefs,  officers  and  soldiers,  having  one  and  all  implicitly  followed 
the  example  of  moderation  set  them  by  then  magnanimous  leader, 
who,  to  obviate  strife,  envy,  and  emulation,  has  absolutely  refused 
the  crown,  and  insisted  that  the  emperor  shall  come  from  Spain,  as 
he  first  proposed  in  the  town  of  Yguala.  Indeed,  the  plan  there  pub 
lished  has  been  adhered  to,  with  the  most  religious  scrupulosity,  ex 
cept  the  slight  variations  made  in  it  by  the  treaty  of  Cordova  at  the 
suggestion  of  general  O'Donoju,  and  the  empire  is  in  consequence 
governed  by  a  regency  of  five  of  its  most  distinguished  and  enlight 
ened  statesmen,  who  have  elected  general  Iturbide  President,  and 
appointed  him  commander  in  chief  of  the  land  and  sea  forces,  and 
by  a  convention,  of  thirty-six  of  the  principal  personages  in  the  em 
pire,  as  respects  talents,  rank,  and  riches.  The  independence  is  to 
be  sworn  in  this  city  on  the  27th  inst.  and  the  Cortes  are  to  meet  on 
the  24th  of  February  next,  the  anniversary  of  the  declaration  iu 
Yguala.  In  the  mean  time,  the  convention  will  be  employed  in  enact 
ing  the  most  salutary  decrees,  and  among  those  already  passed  is 
one  declaring  the  commerce  of  this  empire  free  to  all  nations;  anoth 
er,  doing  away  all  the  arbitrary  taxes,  impositions,  and  excises,  im 
posed  by  the  former  government;  a  third,  reducing  the  duties  from 
sixteen  to  six  per  cent;  a  fourth,  for  the  encouragement  of  the  Mi 
ners,  relinquishing  to  them  the  quota  of  silver  formerly  paid  to  the 
King,  with  other  imposts  that  amounted  to  seventeen  per  cent,  so 
that  many  poor  minerals  that  could  not  be  worked  before,  can  now" 
be  used  to  advantage;  and  a  fifth,  recognizing  and  making  the  new 
government  responsible  for  the  debt  contracted  by  the  old  one,  of 
thirty-six  millions  of  dollars. 

That  there  is  a  strong  bias  in  the  minds  of  the  people  of  this  coun 
try  in  favor  of  the  government  and  citizens  of  the  United  States  in 
preference  to  all  other  nations,  is  beyond  a  doubt;  and  that  the  con 
vention,  of  which  four-fifths  are  native  Americans,  and  the  regency 
which  is  composed  entirely  of  them,  are  actuated  with  the  same  sen 
timents,  is  also  certain.  On  this  subject  I  have  had  various  conferen 
ces  with  the  leading  members  of  the  administration,  whose  senti 
ments  will  be  fully  explained  to  you  shortly  by  Don  Juan  Manuel 
de  Elizalda,  the  minister  plenipotentiary  that  is  already  named,  and 
now  preparing  to  go  to  Washington,  where  I  have  do  doubt  he  will 


[  90  ]  65 

lie  received  and  acknowledged  as  the  representative  of  a  free  and  in 
dependent  nation,  the  Mexican  empire  being  so  at  this  time  to  all 
intents  and  purposes,  in  the  first  place,  by  the  unanimous  wish  and 
consent,  power  and  authority,  of  its  inhabitants,  and,  secondly,  by  the 
treaty  signed  at  Cordova,  between  the  generals  O*Donoju  and  Itur 
bide,  the  deputed  agents  of  Spain  and  this  empire. 

Your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

JAMES  SMITH  WILCOCKS, 


[TRANSLATION.] 

Treaties  concluded  in  the  city  of  Cordova,  on  the  24th  instant,  be*- 
tween  the  Senors  D.  Juan  O'Donoju,  Lieutenant  Ge^.e-  ai  of  the  ar 
mies  of  Spain,  and  D.  Augustin  de  Iturbide,  first  chief  of  the  Imperial 
Mexican  Army  of  theThree  Guarantees. 

The  independence  of  New  upon  Old  Spain  being  declared,  and  it 
Laving  an  army  capable  of  supporting  this  declaration,  the  provinces 
of  the  kingdom  being  subdued  by  it,  the  capital,  where  the  legitimate 
authority  had  been  deposited,  being  besieged,  and  when  there  o*\ly 
remained  for  the  European  government  the  fortresses  of  Vera  Cmz 
and  Acapulco,  dismantled  and  without  the  means  of  resisting  a  siege 
well  directed,  and  which  would  last  some  time — Lieutenant  Genes-al 
D.  Juan  O'Donoju  arrived  at  the  first  port  with  the  character  and  au 
thority  of  Captain  General  and  superior  political  Chief  of  this  king 
dom,  appointed  by  His  Catholic  Majesty,  who,  being  desirous  of 
avoiding  the  evils  which  afflict  the  people  in  vicissitudes  of  this  sort, 
and  trying  to  conciliate  the  interests  of  both  Spains,  invited  the  first 
Chief  of  the  Imperial  Army,  D.  Augustin  de  Iturbide,  to  an  interview, 
in  which  they  might  discuss  the  great  business  of  the  independence, 
by  loosening  without  breaking  the  chains  which  united  the  two  conti 
nents.  The  interview  took  place  in  the  city  of  Cordova,  on  the  24th 
of  August,  1821,  and  the  first  with  the  authority  of  his  character,  and 
the  latter  with  that  of  the  Mexican  Empire;  after  having  conferred 
at  length  on  what  was  most  proper  for  both  nations,  considering  the 
present  situation  and  the  last  occurrences,  agreed  upon  the  following 
articles,  which  they  signed  by  duplicates,  to  give  them  all  the  force  of 
which  documents  of  this  sort  are  capable,  each  one  keeping  an  origi 
nal  in  his  possession  for  the  greater  security  and  validity. 

1.  This  America  shall  be  recognized  as  a  sovereign  and  indepen 
dent  nation,  and  shall  in  future  be  called  the  Mexican  Empire. 

2.  The  Government  of  the  Empire  shall  be  a  constitutional  limited 
monarchy. 

3.  There  shall  be  named  to  reign  in  the  Mexican  Empire  (after  the 
oath  which  the  4th  article  of  the  plan  points  out)  in  the  first  place  the 
Senor  D.  Ferdinand  VII.  Catholic  King  of  Spain,   and  upon  his  re 
nunciation  or  non-admission,  his  brother,  the  most  serene  Senor  Infant 
D.  Carlos;  upon  his  renunciation  or  non-admission,  the  most  serene 

9 


6£  [  90  ] 

Senor  Infant  D.  Francisco  de  Paula;  upon  his  renunciation  or  noil- 
admission  the  most  serene  Senor  D.  Carlos  Luis,  Infant  of  Spain,  for 
merly  heir  of  Etruria,  now  of  Lucca,  and  upon  his  renunciation  or 
hon-admission,  he  whom  the  Cortes  of  the  Empire  shall  designate. 

4.  The  Emperor  shall  fix  his  Court  in  Mexico,  which  shall  be  the 
capital  of  the  Empire, 

5.  Two  Commissioners  shall  he  appointed  by  His  Excellency  Gen 
eral  O'Donoju,  who  shall  go  to  the  Court  of  Spain  to  place  in  the  Roy 
al  hands  of  Senor  D.  Ferdinand  VII,  a  copy  of  this  treaty,  and  the 
exposition  which  shall  accompany  it  for  the  service  of  His  Majesty 
first*  whilst  the  Cortes  of  the  Empire  offer  him  the  crown,  with  all 
the  formalities  and  guarantees,  which  a  business  of  so  much  impor 
tance  demands;  and  intreat  His  Majesty  that  in  the  case  of  the  3d 
article  he  deign  to  notify  their  Serene  Highnesses  the  Infants  men 
tioned  in  same  article  in  the  order  in  which  they  are  named;  inter 
posing  his  benign  influence  that  one  of  those  personages  designated 
from  his  august  house  may  come  to  this  Empire,  inasmuch  as  the 
prosperity  of  both  nations  is  concerned  in  it;  and  for  the  satisfaction 
which  the  Mexicans  will  receive  in  adding  this  to  the  other  bonds  of 
friendship  with  which  Spaniards  can  and  desire  to  be  united. 

6.  There  shall  be  immediately  appointed,  according  to  the  spirit 
of  the  plan  of  Jguala,  a  Junta  composed  of  the  first  men  of  the  Em 
pire  for  their  virtues,  for  their  stations,  for  their  fortunes,  authority 
and  judgment,  of  those  who  are  designated  by  the  general  opinion, 
the  Dumber  of  whom  may  be  very  considerable,  that  the  union  of 
lights  may  ensure  the  success  of  their  determinations,  which  are  eman 
ations  of  the  authority  and  powers  which  the  following  articles  grant 
them. 

7.  The  junta,  of  which  the  following  article  treats,  shall  be  named 
the  provisional  Junta  of  Government. 

8.  Lieutenant  General  D.  Juan  O'Donoju  shall  be  one  of  the  pro 
visional  Junta  of  the  Government,  in  consideration  of  the  conveni 
ence  of  a  person  of  his  rank  taking  an  active  and  immediate  part  in 
the  government,  and  from  its  heing  indispensable  to  omit  some  of 
those  who  were  designated  in  the  said  plan  in  conformity  with  its 
very  spirit. 

.  9.  The  provisional  junta  of  government  shall  have  a  President  ap* 
pointed  by  itself,  and  whose  election  shall  take  place  in  one  of  its  own 
members  or  not,  who  shall  have  an  absolute  plurality  of  votes; 
and  if  an  election  does  not  take  effect  at  the  first  voting,  they  shall 
proceed  to  a  second  scrutiny,  beginning  with  the  two  \vho  may  have 
together  most  votes. 

10.  The  fii-st  step  of  the  provisional  junta  of  government  shall  be, 
to  publish  its  installation,  and  the  motives  which  unite  it,  with  the 
explanations  which  it  may  consider  proper,  to  illustrate  to  thepeople 
their  interests,  and  the  mode  of  proceeding  in  the  election  of  Depu 
ties  to  the  Cortes,  of  which  mention  shall  be  made  hereafter. 

11.  The  provisional  junta  of  government  shall  appoint,  afferthe 
election  of  its  President,  a  Regency  composed  of  three  persons,  ei* 

its<nvrt  members  or  otherwise,  in  which  shall  he   vested  the 


[  90  ]  67 

executive  power,  and  which  shall  govern  in  the  name  of  the  monarch^ 
until  he  shall  take  the  sceptre  of  the  empire. 

12.  The  provisional  junta  being  installed,  shall  govern  provision 
ally  according  to  the  existing  laws,  in  every  thing  not  opposed  to  the 
plan  of  Iguala,  and  until  the  Cortes  form  the  Constitution  of  the 
State. 

13.  The  Regency,  immediately  after  being  appointed,  shall  proceed 
to  the  convocation  of  the  Cortes,  agreeable  to  the  method  which  the 
provisional  Junta  of  Government  may  determine;  in  conformity  to 
the  spirit  of  the  24th  article  of  the  said  plan. 

14.  The  executive  power  is  vested  in  the  Regency,  the  legislative 
in  the  Cortes;  but  as  it  has  happened  for  some  time  before  that  they 
were  united,  that  both  may  not  again  fall  under  one  authority,  the 
Junta  shall  exercise  the  legislative  power,  first  in  the  cases  which  may 
occur,  and  which  cannot  await  the  meeting  of  the  Cortes;  and  then 
shall  proceed  in  accordance  with  the  Regency:  secondly,  to  serve  as} 
an  auxiliary  and  consultive  body  to  the  Regency  in  its  determina 
tions. 

15.  Every  person  who  belongs  to  a  society,  the  system  of  govern 
ment  being  changed,  or  the  country  passing  into  the  power  of  ano 
ther  Prince,  remains  in  the  state  of  natural  liberty  to  transport  him 
self  with  his  fortune,  to   what  place  he  pleases,  without  there  being 
any  right  to  deprive  him  of  this  liberty,  (unless  he  shall  have  contract* 
ed  some  debt  with  the  society  to  which  he  belonged,  by  crime,  or  iu 
other  ways  known  to  publicists:)  in  this  case  Europeans  are  admitted 
into  New  Spain,  and  the  Americans  resident  in  the  Peninsula;   con 
sequently,  thty  shall  be  free  to  remain,  adopting  this  or  that  country! 
or  to  demand  their  passports,  which  cannot  be  refused  to  them,  for  re* 
moving  from  the  realm  in  the  time  prefixed,  bringing  or  carrying1 
with  him  their  families  and  effects;  but  satisfying,  at  the  departure  of 
the  last,  the  established  duties  of  exportation,  or  which  may  hereaf* 
ter  be  established  by  competent  authority. 

16.  The  former  alternative  shall  not  have  place  with  respect  to 
public  officers  or  military  men,  who  are  notoriously  disaffected  to  the 
independence  of  Mexico;  but  these  shall  of  necessity  quit  this  empire 
within  the  term   which  the  Regency  may  prescribe,  carrying  away 
their  property,  and  paying  the  duties  mentioned  in  the  preceding  ar^ 
tide. 

17.  The  occupation  of  the  capital  by  the  troops  of  the  peninsula^ 
being  an  obstacle  to  the  realizing  of  this  treaty,  it  becomes  indispen-* 
sable  to  overcome  it;  but,  as  the  first  chief  of  the  imperial   army, 
uniting  his  sentiments  to  those  of  the  Mexican  nation,  is  desirous  not 
to  take  it  by  force,  because   there  are  abundant  resources,  notwith-* 
standing  the  valor  and  constancy  of  the  said  peninsular  troops,   for- 
the  want  of  means  and  ability  to  support  themselves  against  the  sys^ 
tern  adopted  by  the  whole  nation — Don  Juan  O'Donoju  offers  to  USQ 
his  authority,  that  the  said  troops  may  complete    their 


63  [  90  T 

without  the  effusion   of  blood,   arid  by   an  honorable  capitulation,. 
City  of  Cordova.  24th  August,  1821. 

AUGUSTIN  DE  ITURBIDE. 

JUAN  O'DONOJU. 
A  faithful  copy  of  the  original. 

JOSE    DoMItfGCEZ. 

A  faithful  copy  of  the  original  which  remains  in  this  commandan- 
ey  general. 

JOSE  JOAQJJIN  DE  HfiRRERA, 

THOMAS  ILLANEZ. 

As  assistant  Secretary, 


[TRANSLATION.] 

DECREE  OF  THE  REGENCY  OF  MEXICO. 

The  Regency  of  the  Empire  has  been  pleased  to  address  to  me  the 
following  decree: 

The  Regency  of  the  Empire,  provisional  governor  in  absence  of 
the  Emperor,  to  all  who  shall  see  or  hear  these  presents:  Know  ye, 
that  the  Sovereign  Junta  of  provisional  government  has  decreed  as 
follows: 

"  In  consequence  of  the  desire  expressed  in  the  official  letter  of  the 
23d  of  October  last,  by  His  Excellency  D.  Augustin  de  Iturbide, 
that  this  sovereign  Junta  would  be  pleased  to  determine  the  powers 
and  duties  belong! rig  to  him  as  Admiral  Generalissimo,  for  the  lauda 
ble  purpose  of  not  exceeding  in  the  former,  nor  coming  short  in  the 
latter,  ms  Majesty  has  thought  fit  to  declare:  That  the  prerogatives, 
powers,  and  honors,  designated  in  the  fifteen  following  articles,  be 
long  exclusively  to  him. 

ART.  1.  He  shall  have  command  of  the  forces  by  sea  and  land, 
comprehending  in  his  government  the  economical  and  administrative, 
according  to  the  laws;  consequently,  all  propositions  of  office,  in  both 
branches,  shall  pass  through  his  hand,  of  officers  and  chiefs,  from 
those  of  brigadier,  inclusive,  downwards,  in  the  land  army,  and  the 
equivalents  in  the  other  branches:  He  shall  propose  also  for  the  go 
vernments  of  garrisons,  commanders  of  provinces,  captains  general, 
and  shall  countersign  the  despatches  of  all  these  offices,  receiving 
them  from  the  Emperor,  and  passing  them  to  the  Secretary  of  War, 
for  their  progress. 

ART.  2.  He  shall  direct  the  instruction  of  military  colleges,  and  of 
corps  of  all  the  armories  of  the  army  and  marine. 

ART.  3.  The  inspection  of  the  manufactures  of  gunpowder,  arms, 
munitions,  and  clothing,  shall  be  his  province,  with  every  thing  else 
which  relates  to  those  branches.  Also,  he  shall  have  charge  of  all 
that  relates  to  arsenals,  artillerists,  manufactures,  &c.  belonging  to 
the  marine. 


[90]  69 

ART.  4.  He  shall  watch  over  the  disbursement  of  the  military 
treasury  for  sea  and  land,  and  the  just  distribution  of  the  funds  des 
tined  for  those  branches. 

ART.  5.  He  shall  attend  to  the  distribution  and  movements  of  the 
land  and  sea  forces,  according  to  the  orders  of  the  Emperor  which 
he  may  receive  for  that  purpose. 

ART,  6.  He  shall  be  the  protector  of  commerce,  navigation,  police, 
and  the  works  of  the  ports,  as  well  as  of  the  fortifications  of  the  for 
tresses  of  the  empire,  with  the  powers  of  admiral. 

ART.  7.  He  shall  grant  passports  and  licences  for  navigation,  ac 
cording  to  the  orders  of  the  Emperor. 

ART.  8.  The  Secretary  of  Despatch  of  War  and  Marine,  and  that 
of  the  Treasury,  in  what  concerns  those  branches,  shall  send  to  him 
for  his  information  the  imperial  orders  which  have  been  sent  by  the 
ministers  relative  to  them. 

ART.  9.  Preserving  the  etat  major  of  the  army,  under  the  plan 
which  is  approved,  according  to  the  proposition  of  the  generalissimo 
himself,  he  shall  name  two  generals,  who,  as  chiefs  of  it,  may  commu 
nicate  the  orders  which  they  give;  and  may  also  pursue,  in  their 
name,  the  correspondence  with  the  Secretaries  of  State,  for  facilitat 
ing  the  expedition  of  business. 

ART.  10.  When  the  Etat  Major  of  Marine  is  formed,  he  shall  ap 
point  one  of  the  generals  mentioned  in  the  former  article,  or  shall  ap 
point  a  third,  if  the  multiplicity  of  business  require  it,  for  the  discharge 
of  the  duties,  and  attaining  the  ends  mentioned. 

ART.  11.  He  shall  have  the  title  of  highness;  but  in  official  letters 
which  may  be  addressed  to  him  the  aforesaid  signature  shall  be  omit 
ted,  to  preserve  this  distinction  for  the  Regency. 

ART.  12.  His  guard  shall  be  composed  of  two  companies  of  infant 
ry,  with  a  banner,  which  shall  present  arms  and  beat  a  march.  This 
guard  shall  only  do  honors  to  the  persons  of  the  Imperial  family. 

ART.  13.  When  he  goes  out  there  shall  go  before  four  body  guards, 
and  behind  an  escort  of  twenty  men,  commanded  by  their  officer. 

ART.  14.  In  the  court  and  residence  of  the  Emperor,  the  posts  of 
the  place  shall  do  him  correspondent  honors. 

ART.  15.  On  his  entrance  to,  and  departure  from,  the  fortresses 
and  garrisons,  the  troops  shall  be  drawn  up  and  the  artillery  shall  sa 
lute  him  with  twenty-one  guns,  he  having,  in  every  thing,  by  sea  and 
land,  supremfe  military  honors. 

The  Regency  shall  take  the  charge  of  disposing  its  execution,  and 
that  it  be  printed,  published  and  circulated. 

Mexico,  14th  November,  1821.  First  of  the  Independence  of  this 
Empire. 

JOSE  MIGUEL  GUIRIDI  Y  ALCOZER,  President. 
ANTONIO  DE  GAMA  Y  CORDOVA,  Vocal  Sec'y. 
JOSE  RAPHAEL  SUAREZ  PEREDA,  Vocal  -ec'y. 
JOSE  MARIA  DE  ECHEVERS  Y  VALDIOIELSO, 

Vocal  Secretary* 

To  the  REGENCY  of  the  Empire*" 


70  [  90  ] 

Therefore,  we  command  all  tribunals,  justices,  chiefs,  governors, 
and  other  authorities,  as  well  civil  as  military  and  eccl  \siastic,  of 
whatever  class  and  dignity,  that  they  keep,  and  cause  keep,  fulfil^ 
and  execute,  the  present  decree  in  all  its  parts.  Ye  shall  attend  to 
its  execution,  and  provide  for  its  being  printed,  published,  and  circu 
lated. 

In  Mexico,  the  14th  of  November,  1821. 

AUGUSTIN  DE  ITURBIDE,  President. 
MANUEL  DE  LA  BARCENA. 
ISIDRO  YANFZ. 

MANUEL  VELASQUEZ  DE  LEON. 
ANTONIO,  Bishop  of  Puebla. 
A.  D.  JOSE  DOMINGUEZ. 

By  order  of  the  Regency  of  the  Empire,  I  communicate  this  to  you 
for  your  information. 

God  preserve  you  many  years. 

JOSE  DOMINGUEZ. 
Mexico ,  1 5th  November,  1821. 


[TRANSLATION.] 

Manifesto  of  the  Provisional  Board  of  Government)  to  the  People  of  the 

Empire. 

After  the  long  night  of  three  ages,  in  which  America  has  lain 
plunged  in  darkness,  the  aurora  of  her  felicity  at  last  burst  forth;  that 
day  dawned  for  which  she  had  sighed,  and  which  she  desires  may  be 
perpetual.  This  consummation  would  never  have  been  obtained,  if  it 
had  not  been  founded  in  justice,  nor  if  justice  herself  were  not  to  be 
the  base  of  the  government  which  is  to  consolidate  it.  But  the  junta 
has  the  satisfaction  to  announce,  that  both  considerations  are  combin 
ed  in  the  emancipation  which  we  have  accomplished. 

Nature  has  marked  out  the  territories  of  nations  by  rivers,  moun 
tains,  and  other  boundaries,  which  establish  their  limits.  How  ma- 
Hy  states  are  divided  by  the  Po  arid  the  Rhine,  as  the  Alps  and  the  Py 
renees  divide  France  from  Italy  and  from  Spain.  From  this  last, 
immense  seas  and  a  vast  distance  divide  America;  distances  which 
not  only  make  them  different  as  kingdoms,  but  establish  them  as  be 
longing  to  two  different  worlds.  Policy  must  necessarily  conform 
to  the  order  of  nature,  and  as  it  would  be  monstrous  to  put  in  the 
same  space  the  contrary  elements  of  fire  and  water,  it  is  equally  so, 
to  unite  in  one  province,  people  who  are  distinct  and  distant,  espe 
cially  if  that  difference  and  distance  extend  to  the  extremity  of  the 
two  worlds.  Since  then  it  embraces  all  the  contrarieties  which 
climate  can  originate,  two  vast  globes,  and  opposite  movements, 
cannot  revolve  without  embarrassment  upon  one  axis,  but  each  re 
quires  its  own;  in  the  same  manner,  two  empires  of  distinct  and  op 
posite  qualities,  require  two  governments,  without  being  susceptible 
r>f  facing  united  in  one,  which  is  never  sufficient  to  govern  both  well. 


[90}  71 

If,  occasionally,  the  order  of  nature  is  violated,  in  departing  from 
the  boundaries  she  fixes,  it  must  happen,  as  with  fire  enclosed  in  the 
mines,  that  an  explosion  will  finally  take  place.  The  two  Spains, 
old  and  new,  or,  which  is  the  same  thing,  Castile  and  Mexico,  which 
have  hitherto  home  those  names,  belong  to  distinct  regions  of  the 
earth,  to  different  portions  of  the  globe,  to  opposite  zones  of  the 
sphere;  differences,  which  at  once  evince  the  justice  of  their  separa 
tion.  If  they  have  been  united,  as  Esau  and  Jacob,  in  the  womb  of 
Rebecca,  atid  have  long  remained  so;  this  alone,  giving  to  the  latter 
her  growth,  has  rendered  it  necessary  that  they  should  separate,  as 
these  twinsdid,  first  in  the  maternal  bosom,  and  afterwards  in  their 
descendants. 

The  growth  of  nations  constitutes,  successively,  their  youth  and 
virility,  ages  which  demand  their  separation.  It  is  very  natural 
that  when  a  nation  lias  arrived  at  these  ages,  she  should  refuse  to  de 
pend  upon  one  whose  assistance  she  no  longer  needs,  in  order  to 
act  for  herself.  If,  even  among  brutes,  the  teats  of  the  dam  are  for 
saken  by  the  offspring,  which  has  now  become  capable  of  receiving 
other  aliment  than  milk;  if  the  chick  whose  wings  have  grown,  flies 
alone,  and  no  longer  suffers  itself  to  be  conducted  by  the  bird  which 
formerly  transported  it;  if  the  pubescent  virgin,  consents  to  the  nup 
tials  which  compel  her  to  abandon  the  paternal  dwelling,  in  order 
to  form  a  new  family;  is  it  riot  just  that  America,  having  acquired 
the  strength  which  justifies  it,  should  emancipate  herself? 

It  has  been  long  since  she  arrived  at  her  youth;  but  it  has  also  been 
long  since  assent  was  refused  to  her  emancipation,  for  before  that  was 
accomplished  she  had  attained  the  age  of  virility,  which  justifies  it 
still  more.  The  qualifications  which  demonstrate  that  age  are  to  be 
found  in  her — both  the  moral  ones  of  refinement  and  intelligence,  and 
the  physical  ones  of  arms  and  population.  The  increase  of  their 
families  alone  prevented  Abraham  and  Lot  from  dwelling  in  common, 
and  they  took  different  routes  in  order  to  live  separate. 

Why  then  deny  to  America  the  justice  which  may  assist  her  in 
emancipating  herself,  supposing  this  to  be  her  situation  and  circum 
stances?  Must  she  not  listen  to  the  voice  of  nature,  which  speaks  to 
her  even  through  her  insensible  organs?  May  she  not  burst,  like  the 
plant,  the  teguments  which  covered  her  when  young?  Must  she  be 
forever  in  pupilage  though  at  the  age  of  puberty,  and  must  she  remain 
a  child  of  the  family  even  when  she  is  both  able  and  willing  to  shake 
off  the  paternal  authority?  But  even  this  is  not  all:  nature  tells  her 
still  more,  especially  through  the  organ  of  reason. 

Whenever  the  bird  can  force  the  door  of  its  cage,  or  any  oth^r  ani 
mal  break  the  ligaments  which  confine  it,  they  do  not  hesitate  a  mo 
ment  in  doing  so,  for  reason  teaches  them  to  seek  their  own  happi 
ness.  This  is  what  justifies  still  more  the  independence  of  America. 
She  has  been  able  to  burst  her  fetters  in  order  to  acquire  her  liberty, 
and  to  escape  from  the  yoke  which  impeded  her  prosperity,  and  placed 
her  labor,  industry,  commerce,  and  all  her  movements,  within  such 
bounds  and  restraints  as  might  enfeeble  them.,  in  order  to  make  pre- 


72  [  9Q  ] 

ponderant  the  importance  of  the  mother  country,  or  rather  in  order 
that  the  sole  and  absolute  power  might  be  vested  in  the  latter.  Be 
tween  the  power  and  performance  in  this  rase,  and  with  respect  to 
such  high  and  interesting  objects  as  are  dictated  by  nature  and  de 
monstrated  by  reason,  there  ought  to  be  no  space  whatever,  for  they 
immediately  touch  each  other. 

The  provisional  board  of  government  installed  for  these  purposes, 
in  consequence  of  their  attainment,  and  the  occupation  of  the  capital, 
has  no  other  view  than  them.  It  has  been  assembled  in  order  to  found, 
perfect,  and  perpetuate  them.  The  fundamental  principles  of  go 
vernment  which  they  have  adopted,  appertain  to  the  first:  the  mode 
of  procedure  upon  which  they  have  resolved,  to  the  second:  the  ties 
and  ligaments  which  they  have  proposed  to  themselves,  to  the  third: 
and  they  expose  it  all  to  the  people,  in  order  that  they  mav  judge  of 
the  sincerity  and  propriety  of  their  intentions  and  conduct. 

The  foundations  should  correspond  t>»  tlie  edifice,  and  are  what  give 
it  its  principal  strength.  The  principles  of  government  which  have 
been  adapted  conformable  to  the  plan  of  Igt4ala  and  the  treaty  of 
Cordova,  are  those  received  by  the  most  illustrious  nations.  A  re 
presentative  in  preference  to  an  absolute  government,  a  limited 
monarchy,  and  a  constitutional  system  with  which  \ve  are  already 
acquainted,  are  the  fundamental  maxims,  the  angular  stone  of  our 
edifice.  There  is  nothing  to  apprehend  from  the  ideas  opposed  to 
these,  nor  from  those  which  will  not  bear  the  light  of  day.  Those 
•which  animate  us  are  purely  liberal.  Until  the  meeting  of  the  Cortes, 
the  Spanish  constitution  and  laws  will  be  observed,  so  far  as  they  are 
not  inapplicable  to  the  peculiar  situation  of  the  country. 

The  plan  of  operations  or  mode  of  proceeding  of  the  junta,  has  been 
to  appoint  a  regency  to  exercise  the  executive  power,  reserving  to 
itself  the  legislative  power,  for  such  purposes  as  cannot  be  delayed 
until  the  meeting  of  the  Cortes,  to  whom  this  branch  of  the  govern 
ment  appertains.  Had  the  junta  assumed  this  power  in  its  whole 
-extent,  it  would  have  usurped  it  from  the  people;  but  if  it  were  not  to 
exercise  it  provisionally  in  cases  of  urgency,  the  government  would 
remain  defective;  the  necessities  of  the  moment  could  not  be  provided 
for,  nor  the  thousand  junctures  which  may  present  themselves,  be  met. 

To  obviate  both  the  one  and  the  other,  they  have  already  prescrib 
ed  to  themselves  a  rule,  not  to  sanction  any  thing,  even  provisional 
ly,  unless  its  nature  is  such  that  it  will  not  admit  of  being  delayed 
until  the  meeting  of  the  Cortes,  to  whom  every  thing  else  is  refer 
red.  The  wisdom  of  their  measures,  which  involves  the  perfection 
of  the  liberty  and  happiness  of  the  people,  depends  upon  the  choice 
•which  they  may  make  of  proper  representatives.  The  province  of 
this  Board  is  to  inform  them  on  the  subject,  in  order,  that  all  pas 
sions  being  laid  aside,  and  intrigue  and  party  spirit  banished,  they 
may  have  no  other  end  in  view  than  the  welfare  of  the  country.  For 
this  the  Junta  is  now  laboring,  and  to  take  such  measures  that  the 
Congress  may  be  assembled  in  as  short  a  time  as  possible. 


[  90  ]  73 

In  the  mean  time,  the  puhlic  debt,  so  called,  has  been  acknowledged, 
and  ordered  to  be  paid  as  soon  as  affairs  are  in  a  condition  to  do  soj 
at  the  same  time,  a  stop  has  been  put  to  the  arbitrary  contributions 
with  which  the  inhabitants  were  oppressed,  without  any  advantage 
to  the  Treasury.  The  first  fact  is  announced  for  the  satisfaction  of 
the  creditors,  the  second  for  that  of  the  public,  and  both  as  an  evi 
dence  of  the  proceedings  of  the  government. 

Would  it  were  possible  for  the  latter  to  pay  another  debt,  much 
greater,  and  of  a  superior  kind,  of  which  it  confesses  itself  a  debtor. 
Such  is  that  of  the  deserving  army,  which,  animated  by  the  purest 
patriotism,  and  braving  dangers  and  difficulties  at  the  expense  of  in 
expressible  sacrifices,  have  consummated  the  arduous  undertaking 
"which  Heaven  was  pleased  to  protect  and  crown  with  success.     But 
there  is  no  tongue  to  express  what  it  deserves,  nor  hand  to  remune 
rate  its  services.     Who  is  there  competent  to  relate  what  all  and 
each  of  its  individuals  have  performed;  the  actions  which  have  sig 
nalized  many  of  the  soldiers  and  chiefs,  especially  the  first,  who  ani 
mated  the  rest?  What  reward  can  we  give  them,  or  what  can  recom 
pense  their  benefits?    as  Tobias  the  youth  demanded  of  his  father, 
speaking  of  his  benefactor.     We  have  no  other  choice,  inasmuch  as 
reward  is  impossible,  but  to  manifest  to  them  our  gratitude;  to  which 
nd  many  steps  have  been  taken,  and  others  will  continue  to  be  taken* 
Finally,  the  bonds  which  the  Junta  has  proposed  to  itself  in  order 
insure  and  prolong  our  independence,  are,  besides  the  union  of 
e  inhabitants  of  the  empire,  which  constitutes  one  of  the  guarantees, 
n  alliance,  federation,  and  commerce,   with  other  nations.     The 
Spanish  nation,  to  whom  we  owe  our  origin,  and  to  whom  we  are  at- 
ached  by  the  closest  ties,  ought  to  be  the  first  and  most  privileged  in 
ur  consideration.     We  do  not  content  ourselves  with  the  mere  fa- 
ily  connection  which  results  from  calling  one  of  their  princes  of  the 
>yal  blood  to  our  empire.     We  aspire  to  more;  we  desire  to  unite 
urselves  in  a  fraternity  which  may  turn  to  the  advantage  of  the 
hole  nation,  and  let  it  know  that  our  political  independence,  to 
hich  we  have  been  compelled  by  the  causes  set  forth,  does  not  loosen 
ic  bonds  which  unite  us,  nor  cool  our  affections,  which  ought  to  be 
ic  more  sincere,  in  order  to  destroy  all  resentment. 
We  desire,  then,  that  our  fraternity  may  be  made  known  to  the 
hole  world:  that  European  Spaniards,  in  virtue  of  that  title  alone, 
lay  domiciliate  themselves  in  our  country,  subjecting  themselves  to 
,ts  laws,  and  under  the  inspection  of  our  government;  that  our  ports 
ay  be  opened  to  them  for  the  purposes  of  trade  in  such  a  manner  as 
ay  be  arranged  by  our  laws,  and  that  a  preference  may  be  given  to 
em,  as  far  as  possible,  above  other  nations;  that  there  may  be  es- 
blished  between  them  and  us,  if  practicable  and  agreeable  to  them, 
good  reciprocal  understanding,  regulated  by  definitive  treaties; 
id  that  in  every  thing  there  may  appear  the  most  cordial  amity, 
ith  regard  to  foreign  nations  we  shall  preserve  harmony  with  all, 
ercial  relations  and  others,  as  may  be  expedient. 
10 


74 


[90] 


The  junta  congratulates  itself  that  the  people  of  the  empire  will 
perceive,  in  what  has  been  set  forth,  at  least  their  wishes  for  a  suc 
cessful  result,  which  they  expect  from  the  patriotism  arid  intelligence 
of  the  inhabitants,  who  may  suggest  to  it  whatever  they  deem  condu 
cive  to  a  better  government,  which  the  junta  will  hold  in  due  consi 
deration. 

ANTONIO,  BISHOP  or  PUEBLA, 

President 

JUAN  JOSE  ESPINOSA  DE  xos  MOIVTEROS,  Vocal  Secretary. 
JOSE  RAFAEL  STTAREZ  PEREDA,  Focal  Secretary. 

MEXICO,  13th  October,  1821. 


••* 


